Multi-hit game against Toronto, stealing 18 bases.
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) – South Korea’s Kim Ha-seong used his incredible batting skills and quick feet to “create” hit after hit to lead his team to victory.
Starting at first base and batting second, Kim went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) 2023 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday.
Kim has produced hits in his last three games and has reached base in 15 consecutive games. He also stole his 18th base of the season, moving him closer to the 20-steal mark in his first full season in MLB.
His season batting average increased from .261 to .264 (303-for-80).
Kim’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. He struck out looking in his first at-bat in the first inning, but came up big in his second at-bat in the third.
On a two-strike count against Toronto starter Jose Berrios, Kim lined a low changeup to right field.
Berrios threw a slurve well outside the strike zone to induce a false swing, and Kim responded. He swung with his batting form broken.
But Kim remained focused. He extended his bat and swung like he was playing golf, and the ball landed with a thud in front of the right fielder.
This is not the first time Kim has hit a hit by pitch.
On April 10, in the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves, he hit a sweeper that looked like it was going to hit the ground for a home run.
In the second inning against the Minnesota Twins on May 10, he hit a low, outside slider with a precise upper swing for a single to left.
Again, Kim showed off his unique hitting skills by producing a spectacular hit.
The rest of his at-bats were equally impressive. In the fifth inning, with the score tied at 0-0, Kim drew a walk with one out. The 151-kilometer-per-hour sinking fastball grazed his jersey on the abdomen.
Kim advanced to second on a double steal and scored when Manny Machado followed with a single to left-center.
With a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning, Kim retired the side on a fly ball to right field, but in his final at-bat in the ninth, he reached on an infield single.
He sprinted to first base after the ball was dropped between the pitcher and third baseman. The first base umpire ruled him out, but the call was overturned by video review.
Kim’s run did not score, but San Diego held on for a 2-0 victory in the bottom of the ninth inning.
San Diego starter Darvish Yu earned the win, 토토사이트 pitching six innings of four-hit ball with three walks and seven strikeouts.