'This can't be' Kim Ha-seong struggles against fastball, records first career shutout; game ends in just 1 hour and 51 minutes

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves) swallowed his disappointment after failing to record a hit in three consecutive games.

On the 8th (Korean time), Kim Ha-seong started as the ninth hitter and shortstop in an away game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, for the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, going hitless in three at-bats.

After this game, Kim Ha-seong's season statistics stand at 40 games played, a batting average of 0.110 (11 hits in 100 at-bats), one double, six RBIs, six runs scored, ten walks, thirty strikeouts, two stolen bases (zero caught stealing), an on-base percentage of 0.198, a slugging percentage of 0.120, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.318.

Kim Ha-seong had hit three hits in the game against the Washington Nationals on the 2nd, followed by one hit in the Washington game on the 3rd. However, he went hitless in two at-bats against Philadelphia on the 5th and hitless in three at-bats on the 6th, and remained silent again today.

Today, Atlanta set its starting lineup as Ronald Acuña Jr. (designated hitter), Drake Baldwin (catcher), Aj Albis (second baseman), Matt Olson (first baseman), Ray Thomas (right fielder), Michael Harris II (center fielder), Mauricio Dubón (left fielder), Austin Riley (third baseman), and Kim Ha-seong (shortstop). The starting pitcher was right-hander Grant Holmes.

In response, Philadelphia set its starting lineup as Kyle Schwarber (designated hitter), Trea Turner (shortstop), Bryce Harper (right fielder), Luis Arraez (second baseman), Alec Bohm (first baseman), Bryson Stott (third baseman), Brandon Marsh (left fielder), J.T. Realmuto (catcher), and Justin Crawford (center fielder). The starting pitcher was left-hander Jesús Luzardo.

Kim Ha-seong entered his first at-bat in the bottom of the third inning with the score tied 0-0, one out, and a runner on first base. With a count of 1-2, Kim swung and missed at the fifth pitch from Luzardo, a 96.1-mile-per-hour (approximately 154.6 km/h) fastball.

Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Kim Ha-seong stepped up to bat as the leadoff hitter for his second at-bat. The score remained 0-0. After a full count battle, Kim failed to connect with Luzardo's seventh pitch, a 97.1-mile-per-hour (approximately 156.2 km/h) fastball that moved high and outside, resulting in another strikeout on a swing-and-miss.

Today's game unfolded as a tight pitching duel. In the bottom of the ninth inning, with Atlanta trailing 0-1, Kim Ha-seong came to bat as the leadoff hitter for his third at-bat. Luzardo remained on the mound. Kim made contact with the fourth pitch but was thrown out on a fly ball to center field.

Meanwhile, Atlanta lost narrowly 0-1. The game featured an intense pitching battle that lasted only 1 hour and 51 minutes.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Schwarber hit a solo home run over the left-center field wall with two outs and no runners on base to seal the victory for Philadelphia.

With this home run, Schwarber recorded his 43rd of the season, taking the lead in MLB's home run category. He also maintained a two-run gap over second-place Pete Crow-Armstrong, who hit his 41st home run on the same day.

Philadelphia starter Luzardo pitched nine innings (109 total pitches), allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out twelve batters in a scoreless performance to secure his first career shutout. With this win, Luzardo improved to 14 wins and five losses for the season, lowering his ERA to 2.87.

Following today's loss, Atlanta finished with 85 wins and 59 losses, maintaining its lead in the National League East division. The gap with second-place Philadelphia (81 wins, 63 losses) in the same division narrowed to four games.

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*This content was translated by AI.