Kim Hye-sung (26) of the Los Angeles Dodgers made his first start in four games, hitting a double and leading the team's comeback win.
On the 19th (Korean time), Kim Hye-sung started as the eighth center fielder in the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, USA, recording 1 hit in 2 at-bats and scoring 1 run. His season stats improved to a .386 batting average (27 hits in 70 at-bats), 2 home runs, 11 RBIs, 14 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases in 31 games, with an OPS of .984.
This year, Kim Hye-sung has been thoroughly utilized in a right-handed pitcher platoon, facing left-handed pitchers only 4 times at bat. Recently, he has also missed 3 consecutive games. He did not get to play in the game on the 18th, even though the opposing starting pitcher was right-hander Randy Vasquez, which made the situation even more disappointing. However, in this game, he proved his worth once again.
The Dodgers' starting lineup included Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Freddie Freeman (first base), Teoscar Hernández (first base), Max Muncy (third base), Andy Pahes (left field), Tommy Edman (second base), Kim Hye-sung (center field), and Dalton Rushing (catcher). The Dodgers recorded 7 hits. Kim Hye-sung, along with Pahes (double) and Muncy (triple), delivered extra-base hits. Smith capped the game with a walk-off home run.
Starting pitcher Emmet Sheahan pitched 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, striking out 6, and giving up 1 run. Justin Robleski, who followed, pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, striking out 3, and giving up 2 runs (1 earned run). The Dodgers won 4-3, extending their winning streak to 5 games.
The San Diego lineup consisted of Fernando Tatís Jr. (right field), Luis Arraez (first base), Manny Machado (third base), Gavin Sheets (left field), Jake Cronenworth (second base), Xander Bogaerts (shortstop), Trenton Brooks (designated hitter), Elias Díaz (catcher), and Bryce Johnson (center field). San Diego recorded 7 hits. Arraez had a multi-hit game, but the team's loss overshadowed his performance.
Starter Stephen Kolek pitched 6⅓ innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 walk, striking out 3, and giving up 3 runs. The bullpen, consisting of Wandy Peralta (⅔ inning, no runs), David Morgan (1 inning, no runs), and Robert Suárez (⅓ inning, 1 run), could not hold the 9th inning, resulting in a loss.
In the bottom of the 3rd inning, with the Dodgers trailing 0-1, Kim Hye-sung led off and engaged in a fierce battle with Kolek that went to 7 pitches. However, he ended up striking out after watching a 93.1 mph (149.8 km/h) fastball that was low and inside.
While the Dodgers were down 0-1 against San Diego, Muncy hit a strong ground ball toward right field to lead off the 5th inning. Right fielder Tatís Jr. chased the ball but it deflected off his glove, resulting in a triple. Pahes hit a sacrifice fly, making it a 1-1 tie.
With a runner on first after a hit by Tommy Edman, Kim Hye-sung entered his second at-bat, hitting a 92.2 mph (148.4 km/h) fastball from Kolek for a double. Following Kim Hye-sung's double, Rushing hit a 2-RBI double with one out, turning the game around. Kim Hye-sung also scored.
With the Dodgers taking a 3-1 lead thanks to Kim Hye-sung's performance, he came to bat again in the 7th inning with one out and runners on first and second. However, with left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta replacing the pitcher, Kim Hye-sung was substituted with pinch hitter Enrique Hernández and finished the game. Hernández lined out to right field, and Rushing drew a walk, but Ohtani struck out on a wild swing, leaving the Dodgers without any additional runs.
The Dodgers, who had succeeded in the comeback, saw Betts lead off the 8th inning with a walk. Freeman hit a ground ball to second base, resulting in the lead runner being out, and Teoscar Hernández struck out, but Muncy drew a walk to create a two-out, one on second and first opportunity. However, Pahes struck out, missing a chance to extend the lead.
In the top of the 9th inning, San Diego's Arraez led off with a hit, and Machado's hit led to an error on Muncy's throw from third base. With no outs and the bases loaded after Sheets' hit, Cronenworth hit a sacrifice fly, bringing in one run. Bogaerts followed with a 1-RBI double, tying the game.
However, the Dodgers won the game in the bottom of the 9th inning with one out when Will Smith hit a walk-off home run.
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