Ha-seong Kim (28, San Diego Padres) lost a double due to an absurd error. He repaid that disappointment by stealing a hit with Gold Glove-level defense that even the local broadcasters were impressed by.
Ha-seong Kim recorded 1 hit in 4 at-bats in the 2023 Major League Baseball away game against the Houston Astros held at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, USA on the 11th (Korean time).
The feeling of hitting that had been burning brightly until early August has cooled off. With this day’s hit, he set the record for the most hits in a season since entering the major leagues, but over the last 30 games, he only had a batting average of 0.218 (26 hits in 119 at-bats), 2 home runs, 16 RBI, and an OPS of 0.604. He maintained his season batting average at 0.271, and his OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) dropped from 0.781 to 0.778.먹튀검증
Kim Ha-seong, who retired with a straight hit in his first at-bat, could not help but be embarrassed by the umpire’s incorrect judgment in his second at-bat in the third inning. Ha-Seong Kim did well to catch Houston starting pitcher JP France’s low outside sweeper and hit the ball into the center of the outfield. Houston center fielder Chas McCormick attempted a diving catch, and on the broadcast screen, he was seen hitting the ground and bouncing before touching his glove.
However, the umpire’s first decision was out. Naturally, San Diego requested a video review and the decision was soon overturned. What was disappointing was what happened next. Ha-seong Kim continued running regardless of the decision and reached second base. The umpire judged this to be an overrun caused by Houston’s defenders stopping play after the umpire’s decision, and ordered Ha-seong Kim to return to first base. It turned out that the play, which was done to the best of its ability, resulted in excessive base running due to the umpires’ incorrect judgment. Afterwards, the follow-up hit was missed due to a strikeout-double play, and San Diego failed to score its first score.
Houston scored right away. In the bottom of the third inning, McCormick stole second base following a single to left, and reached third base due to a throwing error by San Diego catcher Luis Campusano. Another passed ball came out and McCormick easily hit home with one single. Houston then took a 3-0 lead when Yanier Diaz got on base with a walk and Jose Altuve called in a two-run arc to left-center.
Here, Ha-Seong Kim blocked Houston’s upward trend with fantastic defense. Jeremy Peña caught San Diego starter Matt Waldron’s fourth pitch and made a hit that crossed the second base. However, Ha-seong Kim quickly covered the back of the second baseman’s base, caught the batted ball, and threw it to first base with a turning throw, putting the batter and runner out. Kim Ha-seong’s defense received a little applause at Minute Maid Park, and the local broadcasters couldn’t help but be impressed. Afterwards, he connected Alex Bregman’s batted ball with Xander Bogaerts into a double play, pouring cold water into the Houston dugout.
However, disappointing scenes continued for Kim Ha-seong and San Diego. Ha-Seong Kim took the lead in the top of the 5th inning and hit another ball to the outfield, but right fielder Kyle Tucker made a diving catch. In the top of the sixth inning, he missed a multi-hit opportunity when he retired with a grounder to third base.
Meanwhile, Houston took the win by scoring 8 points in the bottom of the 6th inning. After leadoff hitter Bregman got on base with a double, Tucker brought in a triple to right field, and Jose Abreu also made it 6-1 with a base hit. Following consecutive hits by Michael Brantley and McCormick, Diaz scored one more run with a timely hit with an RBI single to right, and Altuve added an RBI with a hit to the body. Afterwards, a fielder’s choice, two sacrifice flies, and a timely triple by Tucker recorded four consecutive RBIs, quickly increasing the score to 12-1.
San Diego made up for a point in the 7th inning when Aigui Rosario hit a solo shot to left, but it was not enough to turn the game around. Houston starter France achieved his 11th win (5 losses) with 4 hits (1 home run), 5 walks, 5 strikeouts, and 1 run in 6 innings, while Alvarez, Tucker, and McCormick led the team to a 12-2 victory with multiple hits.
San Diego, which suffered two consecutive losses, ranked 4th in the National League West Division and 7th in the Wild Card with 67 wins and 77 losses, falling one step further from fall baseball. They are 8 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are in third place in the postseason wild card.