[Breaking News] Song Seong-moon records first MLB hit, delivers go-ahead 2-RBI double, topples No. 2 NL Cy Young Award contender right-hander

*This content was translated by AI.

San Diego Padres' Song Seong-moon (30) recorded his first Major League Baseball hit against a right-handed pitcher who finished second in the National League Cy Young Award voting.

On the 6th (Korea time), Song Seong-moon started at second base and batted ninth in the visiting game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, USA, during the 2026 MLB regular season. In the bottom of the 4th inning with two outs and runners on first and second, he hit a double to left-center field.

San Diego's lineup that day was Jackson Merrill (center fielder), Manny Machado (third baseman), Miguel Andujar (designated hitter), Gavin Sheets (first baseman), Fernando Tatis Jr. (right fielder), Xander Bogaerts (shortstop), Nick Castellanos (left fielder), Luis Campusano (catcher), and Song Seong-moon (second baseman). The starting pitcher was Walker Buehler.

San Francisco countered with Lee Jung-hoo (right fielder), Casey Schmidt (second baseman), Rafael Devers (first baseman), Elliott Ramos (left fielder), Bryce Eldridge (designated hitter), Matt Chapman (third baseman), Willy Adames (shortstop), Drew Gilbert (center fielder), and Jesus Rodriguez (catcher).

The opposing pitcher was San Francisco's ace Logan Webb, a right-hander who finished second in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 2023. In their first meeting in the bottom of the 3rd inning, Song Seong-moon was retired on a fly ball to left field. However, the momentum shifted in the bottom of the 4th inning when San Diego trailed 1-4.

In the bottom of the 4th with one out, Sheets singled to left field, and Tatis Jr. doubled to right field, loading the bases. Bogaerts grounded out to third base, bringing the runner from third home. Castellanos then hit a single to center field, driving in one run, narrowing the gap to 3-4.

Campusano was hit by a pitch, creating a bases-loaded situation with two outs. Song Seong-moon got his chance. He did not miss the outside cutter, similar to his first at-bat, and drove it deep. The ball sliced through left-center field at Oracle Park toward the wall, allowing two runners to score.

Adding to the chaos, shortstop Adames committed a throwing error, allowing Song Seong-moon to reach third base. This was Song Seong-moon's two-RBI double that gave San Diego a 5-4 go-ahead lead. Merrill followed with a single to center field, driving in one run, and Song Seong-moon crossed home plate, recording his first run in the Major Leagues. Webb was eventually replaced by J.T. Brubaker at the start of the top of the 5th inning and left the mound.

Song Seong-moon was called up again just ten days after being sent down to the minor leagues, following the placement of incumbent second baseman Jake Cronenworth on the 7th-day injured list due to a concussion. He previously tasted the Major Leagues through a special roster spot for the MLB overseas tour game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Mexico last month. On April 27, he entered the game as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 8th with two outs and a runner on second, becoming the first Korean to appear on the Major League roster.

However, he was immediately replaced in the bottom of the 8th inning and then sent to the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas on April 28, leaving behind a sense of regret.

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*This content was translated by AI.