'Kim Ha-seong, what now?' Third start in three games, yet hitless again → Batting average drops to 0.096... Left regrets even in trusted defense [ATL Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves) is in serious trouble. After falling into a deep slump, he managed to secure a starting opportunity in his third game but failed to make an impact.

On the 7th (Korea time), Kim Ha-seong started at shortstop batting ninth in the home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and went hitless in three at-bats, remaining silent.

Kim Ha-seong, who had broken his four-game hitless streak by hitting an extra-base hit in a start against the Toronto Blue Jays on the 4th, had sat out consecutive games on the 5th against the Blue Jays and on the 6th against the Pirates before being named in the starting lineup for this game.

However, he failed to add another hit today, causing his season batting average to fall back below the 100th-point mark. Although he had raised his average from 0.089 to 0.102 with a hit in the previous game, the hitless performance today brought it down to 0.096 (52 at-bats, 5 hits). His OPS (on-base plus slugging) stands at just 0.271.

In the bottom of the first inning, Atlanta took an early lead after Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mauricio Dubón hit consecutive singles, creating a one-out, first-and-third situation. Ozzie Albies' sacrifice fly to center field scored a run. Atlanta then extended their lead to 2-0 with a hit by Dominic Smith and a double by Austin Riley.

In his first at-bat of the bottom of the second inning, Kim Ha-seong aggressively attacked the 97.1 mph (156.3 km/h) four-seam fastball on the first pitch from right-handed starter Braxton Ashcraft but was out on a pop fly to the second baseman.

In the bottom of the third inning, after Dubón's hit and Albies being hit by a pitch, Smith hit a large fly ball to center field. As Dubón headed for third base, an impressive base-running play unfolded. Albies ran toward second base while Dubón simultaneously scored at home plate, resulting in a double steal that added another run.

After giving up two runs to Pittsburgh in the top of the fourth, Kim Ha-seong appeared again in the bottom of the fourth with two outs. In a full-count battle, he attacked a low curveball that dropped outside on the sixth pitch, but the ball became a fly ball to right field. His swing, hurried by his slipping hips, lacked power.

Atlanta, having allowed a run in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 3-3, succeeded in another double steal in the bottom of the fifth after hits by Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson, creating a one-out, second-and-third opportunity. Albies' sacrifice fly then secured a comeback.

Smith followed with a two-run home run over the left-field wall, his sixth of the season, bringing the score to 6-3 and giving Atlanta a comfortable lead.

However, Kim Ha-seong could not smile. In the bottom of the sixth with one out and no runners on base, he hit a low sinker at 97.1 mph (156.3 km/h) on the inside corner, but the ball came back as a weak grounder at 76.8 mph (123.6 km/h), forcing him to hang his head.

Even his trusted defense left something to be desired. In the top of the eighth with Atlanta leading 6-3, after Ryan O'Hearn's hit, Nick Gonzalez hit a ground ball toward shortstop. Kim Ha-seong quickly chased the ball and fielded it with a backhand, but a throwing error occurred during the release. Given the depth of the hit, an out could not have been guaranteed even with a normal throw, but in a situation where his batting was struggling, he missed a chance to make up for it defensively.

Fortunately, Atlanta avoided further scoring by striking out O'Neill Cruz and getting Andy Rodriguez out on a fly ball to center field. In the ninth inning, closer Raisel Iglesias entered the game, secured the team victory, and recorded his 13th save of the season.

With a two-game winning streak, Atlanta improved to 44 wins and 21 losses, solidifying their position at the top of the National League East Division.

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*This content was translated by AI.