Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-sung (26) started for the second consecutive game and recorded another hit. He seized the opportunity to solidify his position as a starter.

On the 20th (Korea time), Kim Hye-sung played as a starting center fielder batting ninth in the home game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, where he hit a single in his second at-bat in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Against San Diego's right-handed starting pitcher Ryan Bergert, Kim Hye-sung struck out swinging in his first at-bat in the bottom of the third inning. With a ball count of 1-2, he swung and missed at a changeup that had dropped low in the strike zone at 85.7 mph (137.9 km/h), resulting in a strikeout.

However, in his second matchup with Bergert in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, he responded with a hit. The first pitch was a low sweeper that came into the zone, and on the second pitch, Kim Hye-sung made a foul off a four-seam fastball. He wisely selected the low slider inside on the third pitch. Although he brought the bat around, he stopped. Kim Hye-sung, who was called a no-swing, then pulled a slider that dropped similarly on the fourth pitch at 87.1 mph (140.2 km/h), resulting in a hit to right field.

As the Dodgers trailed 0-2 and extended their opportunity to have runners on first and third base with Kim Hye-sung's hit, San Diego manager Mike Shildt took action. He replaced starter Bergert, who had been pitching well without allowing any runs and was on the verge of picking up a win, after 71 pitches. Kim Hye-sung's hit forced Bergert to leave the game. San Diego brought in left-handed pitcher Adrian Morejon to face left-handed hitter Shohei Ohtani, and escaped the threat without allowing any runs with a groundout from the pitcher.

The day before (19th), Kim Hye-sung also played as the eighth batter in center field against San Diego, hitting a double and recording 1 hit in 2 at-bats with 1 run scored. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted, "Kim Hye-sung is working hard to earn consistent opportunities. He has shown that he deserves to get those opportunities," praising him as he once again made his presence felt with a hit on that day. With outfielder Michael Conforto, who has been struggling with a batting average of .168, excluded for two consecutive days, Kim Hye-sung demonstrated his qualifications to become a regular by hitting in two consecutive games.

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