'Broke the Dodgers' infield,' Song Sung-moon leads team to four-game winning streak with pinch runner, go-ahead two-run single [SD Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Song Sung-moon, playing as a pinch runner, hit a go-ahead single, securing a victory for his team against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On the 27th (Korean time), Song Sung-moon made a substitute appearance in the 2026 MLB home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, going 1-for-1 with two RBIs and one run scored, contributing to the team's 7-1 win.

After appearing only as a pinch runner on the 25th, Song hit another single on the 24th against the Atlanta Braves (3-for-1), continuing his hitting form. Excluding games where he did not bat as a pinch hitter or pinch runner in the later innings, this marks his fourth consecutive game with a hit.

As a result, Song's season batting average rose from 0.208 to 0.222 (54 at-bats, 12 hits). His on-base percentage and slugging percentage also increased from 0.300 and 0.245 to 0.311 and 0.259, respectively, while his OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) reached 0.570.

San Diego took an early lead. In the bottom of the second inning, starting pitcher Walker Buehler gave up a solo home run (his 10th) to Mookie Betts to the left field, but the Padres immediately responded.

In the top of the second inning, a bases-loaded situation was created by walks from Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets. Then, Ty France smashed a three-run home run (his 10th) to the left field off Dodgers starter Rocky Sasaki's 86.3 mph (138.9 km/h) low slider, instantly turning the momentum.

Following Buehler's strong pitching, San Diego maintained its lead without allowing any runs. Buehler threw only 74 pitches over 5 1/3 innings, allowing three hits (one home run), issuing three walks, and striking out five batters while surrendering one run. He then handed the ball to Yuki Matsui in the top of the sixth inning with one out and a runner on first base. Matsui later allowed a double to Freddie Freeman and intentionally walked Betts, creating a bases-loaded situation with one out. However, he retired Austin Nola with a third baseman's pop fly and Kyle Tucker with a center fielder's fly ball, closing the inning without allowing any runs.

With the team leading 3-1, Will Wagner drew a walk in the bottom of the sixth inning with two outs, and Song Sung-moon was inserted as a pinch runner. Rodolfo Duran was retired on an infield fly ball, and the run did not score.

In the top of the seventh inning, Song, playing second base defensively, fielded a ground ball hit by Betts with one out and runners on first and second in the top of the eighth inning, then stepped on second base and threw to first to record a double play.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, with runners on first, second, and third and one out following a single by Sheets and walks by Zander Bogaerts and France, Song made contact with a 89.8 mph (144.5 km/h) slider from Jonathan Hernandez that dropped low below the strike zone on the third pitch of a 1-1 count. Although the ball was hit with a speed of 72.4 mph (116.5 km/h) and was not a powerful hit, it was a perfectly placed ball that exploited the gap in the infield's forward shift, bringing in both the runner from third base and the runner from second base.

Song's seventh and eighth RBIs of the season highlighted his ability to perform under pressure, batting 0.267 (4-for-15) with runners in scoring position. While the runner from first base, France, was thrown out at third base, Song reached second base safely. He then scored comfortably on Rodolfo Duran's subsequent double.

After Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a go-ahead single, the San Diego Padres ended the game in the top of the ninth inning with one out and a runner on first base by turning Tommy Edman into a double play.

With a four-game winning streak, San Diego maintains its second-place position in the National League West with a record of 43 wins and 37 losses, narrowing the gap with the first-place Dodgers (52 wins, 30 losses) to eight games.

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*This content was translated by AI.