The ever-evolving Ha-Sung Kim, 28, of the San Diego Padres, is now a force to be reckoned with in the National League West.
Starting at first base against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on April 6, Kim went 1-for-4 with a home run, a walk, and a run scored in the Padres’ dramatic 8-3 victory.
Kim’s hit came in his second at-bat. Trailing 0-2 with two outs in the third inning, he lined Ryan Yarbrough’s 86.7-mph (139-kilometer) sinker to center field, extending his hitting streak to 11 games. He was unable to advance when Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with a fly ball to center field.
In his next at-bat, he was relentless. Trailing 1-3 and leading off the sixth inning, he drew five straight fouls to harass Yarbrough. Working a 1B-2S count, he fouled off five straight pitches, and then took a 10-pitch sinker up the middle on a 2B-2S pitch for a grounder to first base.
Kim extended his multi-hit streak to 13 games with a leadoff single in the eighth inning off Yancy Almonte, trailing 1-3. Tatis Jr. followed with a single to load the bases and scored the tying run on Juan Soto’s infield grounder to second baseman Kike Hernandez.
San Diego erupted for seven runs in the eighth inning, trailing 1-3, to defeat the Dodgers 8-3. Kim’s vision and quick feet played a role in the big inning.
After the game, MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, criticized the Dodgers’ bullpen and praised San Diego’s focus, mentioning Kim’s name twice.
“The Dodgers bullpen collapsed, giving up seven runs in the eighth inning,” MLB.com wrote, “Manager Dave Roberts brought in Almonte, one of his key relievers, in the eighth inning with a 3-1 lead, but he struggled against the San Diego offense. “It got worse in the eighth when Gary Sanchez singled to put runners on first and second with one out, giving up walks to Ha-Sung Kim and Tatis Jr. Kim didn’t react to a game-ending six-pitch sweeper that was actually a full count, leaving Almonte in trouble.카지노사이트
Kim’s name also came up in the analysis of the tie game. In the eighth inning, Kim pinch-hit for Soto and quickly moved to third on an infield grounder, then took advantage of a throwing error by second baseman Hernandez to score the tying run.
MLB.com wrote, “Hernandez’s poor judgment made things worse. After catching a slow grounder, he threw the ball toward the Padres’ dugout in anticipation of a difficult play. Kim took advantage, racing from second base to home plate to tie the game.”
Roberts was not pleased with Almonte’s struggles, which included a walk to Kim and three runs in ⅓ of an inning. “I don’t know what to say about Almonte. He was really bad today (June 6). He lost his command completely. It wasn’t a good game,” Roberts sighed.