Kim Ha-sung started as the second batter shortstop in the home game against the 2023 Major League St. Louis Cardinals at Petco Park in San Diego on the 25th (Korea Standard Time) and scored two hits and three points in five at-bats.
Kim Ha-sung, who had no hit in the game the previous day (three walks), not only had a hit in two games, but also had a multi-hit in nine games since the Houston Astros match on the 9th.
San Diego formed its lineup in the order of Sander Bogaerts (designated hitter), Kim Ha-sung (striker), Juan Soto (left fielder), Fernando Tatis Jr. (right fielder), Luis Campusano (catcher), Garrett Cooper (first baseman), Matthew Baton (second baseman), Egui Rosario (third baseman), and Jose Asoka (center fielder). Michael Waka was the starting pitcher.
St. Louis put Drew Rom on the mound. The batting line-up was followed by Las Nootba (center fielder), Tommy Edman (second baseman), Paul Goldschmidt (designated hitter), Jordan Walker (right fielder), Richie Palacios (left fielder), Lucken Baker (first baseman), Ivan Herrera (catcher), Irving López (third baseman), and Maisin Win (shortstop).
Kim Ha-sung, who faced his first at-bat in the first inning with no outs and second base situation, hit a five-pitch high fastball in a two-ball-2 strike situation and sent the ball toward right field.
At this time, St. Louis right fielder Jordan Walker was lucky to get on base as he made a defensive error that missed the ball. Kim Ha-sung advanced to the second base. The official record was recorded as an error in right field defense. Kim Ha-sung then homered and scored on Juan Soto's three-run home run.
In the second inning, he also got on base due to an opponent's defense error. Kim Ha-sung, who hit a grounder to third base with two outs and a third base, reached the first base with a bad pitch from St. Louis third baseman Irving Lopez. At this time, Sandur Bogartz, a third baseman, homered, and Kim Ha-sung advanced to second base. However, this was also recorded as an opponent's defense error and was not specified as Kim Ha-sung's RBI.
In the fourth inning, he sent a big long ball. With one out and no runners, he hit a sinker on the fourth pitch in the ball count of two balls-1 strikes and hit a double to left field. Soto then homered with a double.
In the fifth inning, he hit a slider with two balls and two strikes and made a strong hit, but he was caught in the shortstop glove and remained in a straight hit.
In the seventh inning, he got on base with a clean right-handed hit, completing a multi-hit.
Kim Ha-sung's batting average for the season rose from 0.264 to 0.266. The OPS is 0.766.
On this day, San Diego's batters hit 18 hits and two home runs. Soto scored three hits, one homer, four RBIs and two runs in five at-bats with his 33rd home run of the season, and Luis Campusano also finished the three-hit game. Jose Azokar hit his second homer of the season. In addition to Kim Ha-sung, Bogartz, Fernando Tatis Jr., Matthew Baton and Eddie Rosario made multi hits.
San Diego starter Michael Waka pitched seven innings with six hits, one walk, six strikeouts, and two runs, earning his 13th win of the season. The bullpen, which led to Rich Hill (one scoreless inning) and Jose Espada (one scoreless inning), then solidified their victory.
San Diego is having difficulty advancing to the postseason, but it is showing tremendous participation at the end. He has been on the rise with nine wins and one loss in the last 10 games. With 77 wins and 79 losses in the season, he is on the verge of winning 0.500.
On the other hand, starting pitcher Drew Rom lost the game with 11 hits, one walk, four strikeouts and eight runs (six earned) in 3.1 innings. Tommy Hyun-soo Edman played the second batter and second baseman on the day, and went 0-for-2 without a hitless and silent.
Meanwhile, San Diego will play three consecutive away games against the San Francisco Giants from the 26th. After a day off, he will end this season with the last three away games of the regular season against the Chicago White Sox.