It’s not just about hitting and defense. For the first time in his major league career, Kim Ha-seong (27, San Diego Padres) has stolen three bases in a single game.
Kim batted first and second in the lineup against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle on Tuesday (July 10), going 1-for-3 with a walk, a hit, a stolen base, and a run scored.
Kim was held to one hit in his last game, ending his multi-hit streak at 15 games. He recorded another multi-RBI game a day later, showing off his ability to excel as a leadoff hitter.
Most notably, he showed a knack for stealing bases. He added three more stolen bases on the day, giving him 27 for the season. This is the first time he has ever recorded three stolen bases in a game. It was his third career multi-steal game. All three came this season.
Kim led off the first inning with a walk. He then won a fielder’s choice against the Seattle Battery. The next batter, Fernando Tatis Jr. stole second base when Seattle starter Emerson Hancock threw an 84-mph changeup, a relatively slow pitch.
Kim then stole third on Juan Soto’s at-bat. He sprinted to third on a 92-mile-per-hour sinker that was high in the zone. But Seattle catcher Carl Rolle didn’t even react. He didn’t seem to be expecting the stolen base at all, and Kim’s start was so exquisite that it took away the other batter’s timing.
Kim then crossed home plate on Soto’s infield grounder. With a full sprint and a daring home slide, the defense didn’t even give him a chance at home. The run was the result of Kim’s vision and feet.
Kim led off the third inning with a single up the middle. It was a 93-mph sinker. The Seattle defense kept the runner at first base, including a pair of pitch outs when Tatis Jr. stepped up to the plate to get the count in the pitcher’s favor.
But Kim was undeterred and stole second base. This time, he timed his changeup to break the start.
Kim again put himself in scoring position, but back-to-back infield grounders by Tatis Jr. and Soto ended the threat.
Choi Ji-Man, who started in the No. 7 spot, went 1-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout before being replaced by a pinch-hitter in the top of the sixth inning.토스카지노
San Diego fell to Seattle 1-6 despite Kim’s early performance. Second baseman Tatis Jr. and third baseman Soto went a combined 0-for-4, unable to find any synergy with leadoff hitter Ha-Sung Kim, who had a multi-hit game.
Starter Darvish Yu pitched six scoreless innings. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the seventh, but Seattle’s Rolle hit a game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, and the Mariners went on to score three more runs to put the game out of reach.
Kim maintained his season batting average at .288, while his on-base percentage increased slightly to .384. He also scored his 63rd run of the season.