'Decisive two-run hit + error-free third base play + stolen base' Song Seong-moon shines, leads 8-7 victory [SD Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Song Seong-moon (30, San Diego Padres) excelled both offensively and defensively to lead his team to victory.

On the 12th (Korean time), Song Seong-moon started at third base and batted ninth in a 2026 MLB home game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Petco Park in San Diego, California, USA, going 1-for-3 with one walk, two RBIs, and one run scored.

Song Seong-moon raised his season batting average from 0.213 to 0.217 (83 at-bats, 18 hits), while also improving his on-base percentage and slugging percentage from 0.308 and 0.288 to 0.316 and 0.289, respectively. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) reached 0.605.

San Diego took an early lead. In the bottom of the first inning, after Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and Xander Bogaerts drew three consecutive walks to load the bases, Gavin Sheets was walked with the bases loaded at one out to score the first run. Ty France then added another run with a sacrifice fly to right field.

The lead was quickly overturned in the top of the second inning. Starting pitcher Walker Buehler allowed consecutive walks to Kazuma Okamoto and Dalton Barnes, then gave up a double to Alejandro Kirk, surrendering one run. After giving up another run on an infield grounder by Andres Gimenez, Buehler surrendered a two-run home run to Jonathan Clase.

The Padres' lineup immediately counterattacked. In the bottom of the second inning with one out, Song Seong-moon drew a straight fastball walk from Trey Mancini to reach base. With Merrill and Bogaerts drawing consecutive walks at two outs to load the bases, Manny Machado's two-run single tied the game 4-4.

In the bottom of the third inning, with one out, Ty France was hit by a pitch, followed by an infield single from Jake Cronenworth, creating a scoring opportunity with runners on first and third.

Song Seong-moon seized the opportunity. He smashed a 83.1 mph (133.7 km/h) outside slider from second pitcher Adam Macon's first pitch for a line drive single to center field, driving in both runners. Song then stole second base, his 11th stolen base of the season. His success rate stands at an impressive 84.6% (11/13), demonstrating significant impact on the basepaths.

Song Seong-moon also shined defensively. In the top of the fourth inning, Matt Waldron allowed a walk to Clase and a hit to Ernie Clement, putting the team in a crisis with runners on first and third and two outs. Song leaped to deflect a fast ball hit toward left field by George Springer, saving his team.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Cronenworth's RBI single extended the lead to 7-4. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Song faced Mason Fluhrer with an 0-2 count and hit a high cutter at 95.1 mph (153 km/h) hard, but was retired on a fly ball to left field.

In the top of the sixth inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a three-run home run to tie the game, but San Diego immediately counterattacked in the bottom of the sixth. Ty France hit a solo home run over the left-field wall after a nine-pitch battle against Fluhrer.

With an 8-7 lead, reliever Mason Miller entered the game. He allowed a hit and a stolen base to Nathan Lukes, but with runners on first and second and one out, he retired Springer on a fly ball to center field and struck out Okamoto swinging to preserve the team's victory.

San Diego recorded 47 wins and 48 losses, maintaining third place in the National League West Division. While trailing first-place Los Angeles Dodgers by 13.5 games, they are being closely pursued by second-place Arizona, who trail by just one game. In the National League Wild Card race, they sit in eighth place, 4.5 games behind third-place Miami Marlins, keeping their hopes for the postseason alive.

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*This content was translated by AI.