*This content was translated by AI.
San Diego Padres infielder Song Sung-moon (30) entered the game as a substitute in the later innings, delivering a crucial hit and a run to help his team secure a victory.
On the 18th (Korea time), Song was inserted as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the 7th inning in an away game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, in the '2026 Major League Baseball (MLB)'. He then stepped up to the plate, recording 1 hit in 1 at-bat and 1 run, demonstrating his presence. Song, who had not recorded a hit in his previous three games, saw his season batting average rise from 0.178 to 0.196 (9 hits in 46 at-bats).
On this day, Song's bat swung fiercely in the top of the 9th inning when his team led 3-1. As the leadoff batter in the top of the 9th, Song faced St. Louis' fourth pitcher, Chris Loikroft. With a 1-ball, 1-strike count, Song connected with a cutter thrown by Loikroft at 145 km/h (approximately 90.3 mph), launching a thrilling bullet shot reaching 158 km/h (approximately 98.4 mph).
That hit sliced through the defensive gap right next to JJ Weatherholt (24), the 24th-year-old second baseman and a 'strong contender for the rookie of the year' this season, who is also a Korean-American infielder drawing attention across all of Major League Baseball. It was a single blow that completely neutralized the defensive net of the infielder, a 'top-tier prospect' known for his athletic ability, resulting in a sharp hit to left field.
After reaching base, Song's speed also shone. When shortstop Rodolfo Duran grounded out, Song touched second base. He then crossed home plate on Fernando Tatis Jr.'s subsequent RBI single, recording a valuable run for his team.
San Diego opened up a path with Song's hit and run, then concentrated their follow-up hits to completely overpower St. Louis with a 6-1 victory. With this win, San Diego, holding a season record of 38 wins and 35 losses, firmly maintained its second-place position in the National League West Division.
In today's game, star hitters Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill each went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs in 5 at-bats, leading the team's offense. The pitching staff also shone. The San Diego pitching staff, with a total of five pitchers throwing in succession, delivered stingy pitching, holding the St. Louis lineup to just one earned run.
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*This content was translated by AI.
