'Starting lineup' Song Sung-moon, endured a tough at-bat to reach base via walk, creating a bases-loaded opportunity... but despite the team's lineup going silent with only two hits, 'SD secured a 2-0 victory'

*This content was translated by AI.

Song Sung-moon (30), who has been active with the San Diego Padres, made his first start in a while but unfortunately failed to record a hit, drawing only one walk. His batting average has now fallen to the .100s.

On the 24th (Korean time), Song Sung-moon started at third base and shortstop in the home game against the Oakland Athletics at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, as part of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season. He went 0-for-2 with one walk and one strikeout in two at-bats.

Song Sung-moon, who had been substituted in only as a pinch runner in all of his last five games, returned to the starting lineup for the first time in eight days since the game against the Seattle Mariners on the 16th.

After this game, Song Sung-moon's season statistics stand at 15 games played, with a batting average of 0.190 (4 hits in 21 at-bats), one double, four RBIs, three runs scored, four walks, five strikeouts, two stolen bases (zero caught stealing), an on-base percentage of 0.320, a slugging percentage of 0.238, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.558.

For this game, the San Diego Padres set their starting lineup as follows: Fernando Tatis Jr. (second base), Miguel Andujar (designated hitter), Gavin Sheets (left field), Manny Machado (third base), Nick Castellanos (right field), Jackson Merrill (center field), Ty France (first base), Freddy Fermin (catcher), and Song Sung-moon (shortstop). The starting pitcher was right-hander Lucas Giolito, who had a record of one win and no losses with an ERA of 5.40 in all games prior to this one this season.

In the bottom of the second inning, with the score tied 0-0 and one out with runners on first and second, Song Sung-moon stepped up to the plate for his first at-bat. He engaged in a tough battle against Oakland Athletics' starting right-hander J.T. Ginn and eventually drew a walk on the seventh pitch. With one out and the bases loaded, the following batter, Fernando Tatis Jr., reached base on a hit-by-pitch, allowing the runner on third, Merrill, to score. However, no further hits materialized, and Song Sung-moon was unable to cross home plate.

Song Sung-moon came to bat for the second time in the bottom of the third inning with the San Diego leading 2-0, two outs, and runners on first and second. He attempted to hit J.T. Ginn's first pitch but was retired on a ground ball to second base, leaving him with a sense of regret. In his third at-bat, in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs and no runners on base, he faced Oakland's reliever, right-hander Joel Kuenzel, and after a full-count battle, he swung and missed at a low outside sinker on the sixth pitch, resulting in a strikeout.

Although Song Sung-moon remained hitless, the San Diego Padres secured a 2-0 victory by relying on their pitching staff. Starting pitcher Giolito was somewhat shaky, allowing four hits and five walks over five innings, but he demonstrated his ability to pitch scoreless innings. After Giolito left the mound, the relief pitchers each pitched scoreless innings in succession, maintaining the two-run lead. The San Diego Padres managed to defeat the Oakland Athletics, who recorded five hits, despite only managing two hits themselves.

With this win, the San Diego Padres improved their season record to 31 wins and 20 losses, maintaining their second-place position in the National League West Division. The gap to the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers is only 0.5 games. The Oakland Athletics, with a record of 26 wins and 26 losses, continue to lead the American League West Division.

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*This content was translated by AI.