San Diego scores seven runs in the eighth to take an 8-3 lead
San Diego Padres’ Ha-Sung Kim extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Choi struck out in his first at-bat before being replaced.
Kim Ha-seong and Choi Ji-man were named to the starting lineup for the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, on June 6, batting first and second, respectively.
Kim went 1-for-4 with a home run, a walk and a run scored. It was his 11th consecutive game with a hit, raising his season batting average to .286.
Ji-Man Choi, who joined San Diego via trade on Feb. 2, started for the second straight game. After a two-strikeout, two-run performance the day before, Choi struck out in his first at-bat before leaving the game.
Choi’s season batting average dropped to .200 from .203.
In the first inning, Kim faced Dodgers starter Michael Grove and struck out swinging.
Choi also struck out. He faced left-hander Ryan Yarbrough at first base with two outs in the third inning, but his five-pitch high sinker went wide.
In the second inning, Kim took an 86.7 mph (139.5 km/h) sinker from Yarbrough for a single up the middle. However, the next batter, Fernando Tatis Jr. flied out to center field and was unable to advance.
The second showdown between Choi and Yarbrough was not to be. In the fifth inning, Choi was replaced by right-hander Garrett Cooper to end the game.
In the top of the sixth inning, Kim Ha-seong battled Yarbrough for 10 pitches before being left stranded at first base.
In his next at-bat, Kim helped the team turn the tide. With his team trailing 1-3 in the eighth inning, Kim drew a walk against right-hander Yancy Almonte.
Tatis Jr. then drew a walk, advancing Kim to second and scoring on Juan Soto’s infield single.
San Diego cut the deficit to 5-3 when Manny Machado hit an RBI double that slipped between third and shortstop. Jake Cronenwirth followed with an RBI single to left and Trent Grisham added an RBI double to left.
With runners on first and third in the bottom of the eighth, Kim ended the at-bat with a fly ball to right field.
With the 8-3 win, San Diego improved to 55-56 on the season.
The Dodgers (63-46) 고스톱 remained in first place in the National League West but saw their five-game winning streak snapped.