Looking back, the inning in which Kim Ha-sung (29) slipped was the best chance for the San Diego Padres to score a point. Since then, Jackson Merrill's triple has become a double play for both Kim Ha-sung and San Diego.
Kim Ha-sung started as the fifth batter and shortstop in an away game against the Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee in the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 18th (Korea time), and recorded one hit in four times at bat.
Kim Ha-sung, who had three consecutive hits and seven consecutive on-base hits following his home run the previous day (17th), slightly raised his batting average for the season from 0.225 to 0.227.
It was a disappointing game for San Diego. Starting pitcher Michael King pitched well, allowing two hits, two walks, 10 strikeouts, and one run in seven ⅔ innings, including six ⅔ without hit. Unfortunately, however, his team lost 0-1 as its batters only had five hits. With the result, San Diego Padres, which recorded 11 wins and 10 losses, maintained its No. 2 position in the NL West.
The most decisive moment of the day was the seventh inning. In the top of the seventh inning, when the score was tying 0-0, leadoff hitter Manny Machado hit the first pitch of changed pitcher Brian Hudson to hit a right-handed hit. Kim watched the sinker at 95.5 miles per hour and touched the slider at 89 miles per hour.
However, he lost his batting balance because he focused on hitting the ball. As he slipped right after hitting, he started late, which led to a double play. Kim Ha-sung also rushed to first base until the end, but expressed deep regret over the result of double play.
Badly enough, San Diego's follow-up hitter Jackson Merrill hit a triple to deep right field. If even one runner had been left, he could have taken the first run and eased the burden on hard-hitting Michael King. However, as Tyler Wade stepped down after a fly ball to center field, San Diego missed the most critical chance to score.
King's no-hitter was also broken in the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning, first baseman Matthew Baton swung Jake Bowers' fastball to catch him, and his no-hit was unbroken. However, Willy Adames immediately hit a hit to the right. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with one out, Bryce Tuang had a hit to the left and a stolen base to create a run-scoring opportunity. King struck out Jackson Julio with a swing and miss, but Wandy Peralta, who pitched as a relief pitcher, allowed Blake Perkins to hit a timely RBI, making him a losing pitcher.
On the day, San Diego produced a lineup of players including Xander Bogaerts (second baseman), Fernando Tatis Jr., right fielder, Jurickson Profar (left fielder), Manny Machado (designated hitter), Kim Ha-sung (striker), Jackson Merrill (center fielder), Tyler Wade Jr., Matthew Baton (first baseman), and Kyle Higashioka. Michael King started the game.
In response, Milwaukee had a lineup of players including Sal Frelick (left fielder), William Contreras (catcher), Jake Bowers (first baseman), Willie Adames (striker), Oliver Dunn (third baseman), Reece Hoskins (designated hitter), Bryce Turang (second baseman), Jackson Churio (right fielder) and Blake Perkins (center fielder). Bryce Wilson started the game.
Amid good pitching by starting pitchers of both teams, the game progressed quickly. Wilson struck out two and performed perfect pitching until he was doubled by Higashioka with two outs in the third inning. Among them was Kim Ha-sung's fly ball.
Kim singled out a hit. In the top of the fourth inning with two outs and a runner on the first base, he singled through a cutter on Wilson's body, and managed to secure a hit in three consecutive games by making a sharp left-handed hit. With the fast hit reaching 102.5 miles per hour, Wilson left the mound. He failed to score due to failure to follow-up shots.
Since then, the game between the two teams has been in a lull again. San Diego rarely created a chance due to Profar's double play in the top of the sixth inning and Kim Ha-sung's double play in the top of the seventh inning. In the top of the eighth inning, leadoff hitter Baton faced a golden opportunity with a triple, but Higashioka hit a fly ball to the second base, Bogartz struck out a foul tip, and Tatis Jr. grounded out to give Milwaukee a good atmosphere.
In the end, he gave up a run in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Profar and Machado were out due to ground balls in the top of the ninth inning. The San Diego Padres lost 0-1 as Kim Ha-sung's well-hit ball went straight to center fielder Perkins' glove.
Milwaukee's Avner Uribe, who took the mound in the eighth inning, secured his second win (one loss) of the season by preventing the crisis of third base with no outs and no runs.
BY: 스포츠토토핫