'With' Kim Hye-seong's phantom defensive play '90-degree bow' helped Ohtani, yet despite a sharp outing with only one earned run, he suffered his first loss... LAD fell by one run

*This content was translated by AI.

Shohei Ohtani delivered a sharp six-inning, two-run performance, but tasted his first loss of the season amid silence from his team's lineup. Kim Hye-seong went hitless in four at-bats but showcased solid defense.

On the 29th, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 1-2 to the Miami Marlins in a regular-season MLB away game held at UCLA Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

The Dodgers started with Shohei Ohtani on the mound. The batting order was Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Will Smith (catcher), Kyle Tucker (right fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Teoscar Hernandez (left fielder), Andy Pages (center fielder), Kim Hye-seong (shortstop), and Alex Freeland (second baseman).

In response, Miami started with Jansen Junk. Their starting lineup consisted of Jacob Marsh (center fielder), Kyle Starwos (left fielder), Otto Lopez (shortstop), Xavier Edwards (second baseman), Agustin Ramirez (catcher), Connor Norby (designated hitter), Owen Casey (right fielder), Christopher Morel (first baseman), and Graham Polly (third baseman).

Ohtani pitched six innings (104 pitches), allowing five hits, three walks, nine strikeouts, and two runs (one earned), fulfilling his role, but he took the loss for the first time this season without support from his team's offense. Kim Hye-seong went hitless in four at-bats, and his batting average dropped to 0.294.

In the first inning, both teams failed to score. In the bottom of the second, Miami successfully gained the upper hand by attacking Ohtani. Leadoff batter Ramirez reached first base on a hit-by-pitch. Following that, Norby successfully stole second base, and at the same time, Ohtani committed a throwing error, allowing Norby to reach third base. Norby was eventually retired on a swinging strikeout, but Casey scored on a sacrifice fly to center field, giving Miami the early lead. However, since the run was charged to Ohtani's throwing error, it was not recorded as an earned run.

Kim Hye-seong faced his first at-bat immediately in the bottom of the second with one out and no runners on base, but he was retired on a line drive to center field, leaving him disappointed.

Kim Hye-seong displayed outstanding defense in the top of the fourth. Miami had runners on first and second after Edwards singled to left with one out and Ramirez walked. When Norby hit a fly ball to center field, Edwards attempted a tag play at second base but ended up on third. The next batter was Casey. With a 0-2 count, on the third pitch, Casey hit a ball that bounced heavily near home plate and slowly rolled toward second base. Kim Hye-seong quickly rushed to field the ball and made a swift throw to first base for the out. Ohtani confirmed the out, clenched his right fist, and headed toward the dugout. Later, Ohtani bowed his head in gratitude from the dugout, and Kim Hye-seong was captured on broadcast footage bowing his head in return.

Miami shook up Ohtani again in the top of the fifth and added another run. Leadoff batter Morel reached on a straight walk. The following batter, Polly, was out on a pop fly to second base. After Marsh bunted a sacrifice to the pitcher, Miami created a two-out, second-base opportunity. Starwos then hit a two-run single to right field, making the score 2-0.

Kim Hye-seong appeared as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fifth but was retired on a line drive to second base. In the top of the seventh, with two outs and no runners on base, Kim Hye-seong grounded out to second base.

The Dodgers struggled without scoring a single run through seven innings but finally managed to score in the bottom of the eighth. After Freeland singled to left, Freeman hit a single to right with one out. Smith then hit a two-run double to center-left, bringing the runner from third home. However, the Dodgers' comeback ended there. Kim Hye-seong was retired on a fly ball to left field in the bottom of the ninth with one out and no runners on base. Ultimately, the Dodgers managed only seven scattered hits and lost 1-2. The Dodgers finished with 20 wins and 11 losses, while Miami recorded 15 wins and 16 losses.

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*This content was translated by AI.