*This content was translated by AI.
The Los Angeles Dodgers fell into a shocking four-game losing streak amid a silent lineup and misaligned pitching. The heroic performance by starting pitcher Sasaki Rocky (25) and Kim Hye-seong's (27) return to the starting rotation were not enough to prevent the team's defeat. Most painfully, Shohei Ohtani's (32) silence was a blow.
On the 3rd (Korea time), the Dodgers lost 2-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals in an away game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, in the '2026 Major League Baseball (MLB)' season. Although they scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning while trailing 0-3, they could not turn the game around.
As a result, the Dodgers continued their recent four-game losing streak, while the St. Louis Cardinals surged ahead with six consecutive victories.
Kim Hye-seong, who had drawn high expectations, started at shortstop in the eighth spot but was substituted after recording two at-bats with no hits. In the top of the 2nd inning with two outs and runners on first and second, Kim Hye-seong faced the third pitch, a changeup, from opposing starter Michael McGreevy but was retired on a ground ball to the second baseman. He was also retired on a ground ball to the pitcher in the top of the 5th inning with one out and a runner on first, leaving behind a sense of regret. Ultimately, in the top of the 8th inning, when left-handed pitcher Jose Reyes was brought in, Kim Hye-seong was replaced by right-handed hitter Alex Colome and ended his game for the day. His season batting average dropped slightly from 0.304 to 0.293.
On the mound, Sasaki Rocky's rare strong performance stood out. Sasaki threw 104 pitches over 6 innings, allowing 5 hits (including one home run), striking out 4 batters, and giving up 3 earned runs, recording his first Major League debut Quality Start (starting pitcher pitching 6 or more innings with 3 or fewer earned runs). The only blemish was a two-run home run allowed to Jordan Walker in the bottom of the 3rd inning, but he showcased overwhelming dominance by retiring 10 consecutive batters from the 4th through the 6th inning.
However, the Dodgers' problem lay in their lineup. In particular, 'superstar' Ohtani remained hitless with four at-bats and two strikeouts, falling into a slump of three consecutive hitless games. In the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs, the Dodgers mounted a close chase, scoring one run thanks to consecutive RBI hits from Max Muncy and Andy Pages, but it was not enough to turn the game around.
Meanwhile, St. Louis's Korean pitcher Riley O'Brien (31) appeared in the top of the 9th inning, struggled with two earned runs, but secured his ninth save of the season by striking out the final batter, Dalton Rushing. The anticipated 'Korean Derby' matchup unfortunately failed to materialize as Kim Hye-seong was substituted.
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
