Mike Clevinger Makes KBO Debut as NC Dinos Playoff Push Takes Another Hit
Mike Clevinger allowed one run over three innings in his KBO debut as the NC Dinos lost 9-2 to the LG Twins and slipped further behind Doosan.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 1 min read 
Mike Clevinger made his KBO League debut for the NC Dinos on Wednesday, working three innings in a 9-2 loss to the LG Twins at Changwon NC Park as NC lost more ground in its late-season playoff chase.
The 35-year-old right-hander allowed one run on two hits across 50 pitches. He struck out one, walked three and reached 150 km/h (93.2 mph) with his fastball in his first game since arriving in South Korea on September 13.
Clevinger limits damage in short KBO debut
Clevinger opened his night with a clean first inning, retiring Hong Chang-ki, Park Hae-min and Austin Dean in order. LG broke through in the second after Moon Jeong-bin walked and Oh Ji-hwan singled, with Koo Bon-hyeok’s squeeze bunt bringing home the game’s first run.
The former MLB starter escaped without further damage and completed a scoreless third before NC went to its bullpen. His final line was three innings, two hits, one earned run, three walks and one strikeout.
Clevinger’s outing came only days after NC signed him as a temporary replacement for injured foreign pitcher Curtis Taylor. He entered the KBO with 164 MLB appearances, including 142 starts, and a career 60-44 record with a 3.55 ERA and 822 strikeouts over 809 2/3 innings.
NC Dinos lose ground in postseason race
NC briefly moved ahead 2-1 in the fourth on Park Kun-woo’s two-run home run, but LG regained control after Clevinger left the game. The Twins scored twice in the fifth and continued to pull away before a three-run ninth completed the 9-2 final.
The defeat dropped the Dinos to 59-63-2 and left them 4.5 games behind the fifth-place Doosan Bears, the final KBO postseason position. It was NC’s third consecutive loss at a stage of the season when the club has little margin for error.
Clevinger was brought in specifically to give the Dinos another experienced arm for that push. His debut was deliberately limited after a month without game action, but his next appearances now carry added weight as NC tries to stay within reach of Doosan.
