Defense that added strength to ‘no hit’ + timely hit… Kim Ha-seong, wedge guitar explosion! SD escaped 5 consecutive losses
San Diego Padres Kim Ha-seong overcame the previous day’s disappointing decision and started producing hits again. Above all, it was significant in that it contributed greatly to the career high pitching of ‘colleague’ Michael Waka.
On the 16th (hereinafter Korean time), Ha-seong Kim started as second baseman and batsman 7 in the 2023 Major League Kansas City Royals home match held at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, and recorded 1 hit and 1 RBI in 4 at-bats.
Kim Ha-seong, who had been silent with no hits, such as being unfairly judged the previous day (15th), immediately went on a hit streak in one day. He was on the verge of going hitless for two consecutive games, but hit a valuable timely hit in his last at-bat. His batting average for the season was maintained at 0.230.
The first half of the game wasn’t very good. In the first at-bat as the lead batter at the end of the second inning with Kim Ha-seong leading 1-0, he played a game with Kansas City starter Brad Keller to 6 pitches, but failed to capture the 83.7 mile (approximately 134.7 km) slider that was driven into the middle of the strike zone, and right fielder went away with a fly ball.
There weren’t many team hits, but Kim Ha-seong’s at-bat quickly returned due to the pouring sand dunes. Ha-seong Kim entered the second at-bat at the end of the 3rd inning with no runners on the first run, and this time also hit Keller’s 3rd pitch slider. However, the result did not change with a floating ball in right field. And in the third at-bat in the 5th inning, he struck out looking for the 6th fastball and hung his head.
Kim Ha-seong, who was rarely active at bat, helped his ‘colleague’ Michael Waka with the best pitching streak of his career. Kim Ha-seong, who started as second baseman, naturally moved to third baseman when Manny Machado was replaced in the aftermath of the sand dunes. San Diego starter Mike Waka continued to strike out 11 strikeouts in the top of the 7th inning, with no runners on the 2nd, and not only the most strikeouts in a game, but also pitching a ‘no hit’.
With no runners out in the 7th inning, a ball hit by Kansas City’s Edward Olivares headed toward the third baseman. Ha-seong Kim easily caught Olabares’ attacking ball, then threw the ball to first base and created an outcount that concluded the inning. With this, Waka succeeded in completing 7 innings of ‘no hit’ pitching.
After a meaningful defense, Kim Ha-seong broke the silence. Ha-seong Kim did not miss the 83.9 mile (approximately 135 km) curve of pitcher Josh Starmons, who had changed from the scoring opportunity of the 1st and 2nd bases at the end of the 7th inning with a score of 3-0, out of the strike zone and falling low, and connected it to the center field with a timely hit, valuable scored the score.
Waka climbed the mound in the 8th inning with Kim Ha-seong’s scoring support. However, he ended the ‘no-hit’ streak by giving up a hit to leadoff batter Michael Massey. However, Waka happily finished the game with the most strikeouts in a game in 11 years in the major leagues. San Diego managed to break out of a five-game losing streak with a 4-0 win 스포츠토토.