The bat of Ha-seong Kim (28, San Diego Padres), who had been silent the previous day with no hits, spewed fire again.
On the 16th (Korean time 안전놀이터), Kim Ha-seong started as the first batter and second baseman in the 2023 Major League Baltimore Orioles home game held at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, and recorded 2 hits and 1 run in 5 at-bats. Kim Ha-seong, who made the sixth multi-hit game in August, raised his batting average from 0.283 to 0.285.
From the first at-bat in the first inning, Kim Ha-seong’s bat was fierce. On the ball count of 2-2, Ha-seong Kim hit Baltimore starter Jack Flaherty’s 5th pitch knuckle curve and hit a sharp hit that passed the side of the third baseman. The ball rolled all the way to the corner of the left wall, and Kim Ha-seong arrived at second base with ease and showed off his signature celebration.
In the ensuing attack situation, while Fernando Tatis Jr. with a ground ball and Juan Soto with a floating ball retreated, Kim Ha-seong could not advance further. However, Flaherty suffered a sudden loss of control and walked three batters in a row, and Kim Ha-seong stepped on the home with a push to score. Afterwards, Gary Sanchez’s grand slam from bases loaded gave San Diego a 5-0 lead from the first inning.
Kim Ha-seong, who was hit for the second time at bat in a situation where there was no runner in the second inning, almost recorded another long hit. Kim Ha-seong’s hit, which hit Flaherty’s fourth fastball, flew 348 feet (about 106.7m), but was unfortunately caught by the left fielder in front of the left wall.
Kim Ha-seong, who recorded a multi-hit in 4 games / Photo = Getty Image Korea
With San Diego leading 7-0 in the 4th inning without a runner, Ha-seong Kim completed a multi-hit. In the unfavorable situation of the ball count of 0-2, Baltimore pitcher Nick Vespi’s 3rd pitch curve was lightly hit with the tip of the bat, and while the ball hit the pitcher’s glove and rolled in front of the second baseman, Ha-seong Kim stepped on first base and passed by.
Kim Ha-seong, who succeeded in reaching base with an infield hit, advanced to second base with Tatis Jr.’s hit, but the follow-up hitter, Juan Soto, withdrew due to a double hit and was unable to score an additional run. Afterwards, Kim Ha-seong withdrew with a grounder on second base in the 5th inning and a grounder on third base in the 8th inning, ending the game without adding a hit.
Meanwhile, San Diego’s batting line exploded with 13 hits and 10 runs, defeating Baltimore (74-46, odds ratio 0.617), which ranked first in the American League (AL), 10-3, and succeeded in escaping from three consecutive losses. San Diego, which recorded 57 wins (63 losses, 0.475 win rate) this season, is keeping the spark of hope alive toward the final ticket to the National League Wild Card, which took place by 5.5 games.