'Kim Ha-seong Out' Atlanta Reaches 90 Wins → Playoff Berth Secured! Division Title Magic Number '3'

*This content was translated by AI.

The Atlanta Braves are set to make their eighth appearance in the postseason within the last nine years. The magic number for clinching the National League East division title stands at just '3'. However, amidst the team's celebration, Kim Ha-seong (31) remained on the bench and was sidelined.

On the 19th (Korea time), Atlanta secured a decisive 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros in an away game held at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.

With this win, Atlanta reached 90 wins (64 losses) for the season, extending their lead over second-place Philadelphia Phillies by five games and officially clinching a playoff spot. Reducing the magic number to three for winning the National League East division outright, Atlanta has set the stage to potentially lift the division championship trophy as early as the game on the 21st.

Even amid the joy of victory, Kim Ha-seong was not seen on the field. After becoming a hero in an extra-inning game against Philadelphia on the 12th with a tying two-run single and the go-ahead run, Kim started three consecutive games through the 17th but went hitless in seven at-bats across those contests, falling into a severe hitting slump. His season batting average plummeted from 0.135 to 0.126.

Ahead of today's game, Atlanta's bench made a decisive move. Kim Ha-seong was removed from the starting lineup, and Mauricio Dubón was inserted as the fifth hitter and shortstop. Dubón responded perfectly to the coaching staff's trust, recording two hits in five at-bats, including a double.

Atlanta controlled the game's flow with three home runs. In the bottom of the fourth inning, after Matt Olson's hit, Michael Harris II launched a two-run homer for the lead. Houston narrowed the gap to one run in the top of the fourth on Jordyn Alvarez's double and Isaac Paredes' RBI single, but Atlanta pulled away again in the bottom of the seventh with Ronald Acuña Jr.'s two-run home run. After allowing one run in the top of the eighth, Olson unleashed his 40th home run of the season—a go-ahead two-shot blast in the bottom of the ninth—completely quashing Houston's comeback hopes.

On the mound, starting pitcher Tyler Matzek delivered a quality start with six innings, allowing three hits and one run while striking out six and walking one, earning his seventh win (10 losses) of the season. Offensively, Olson, who reached 40 home runs, and Harris II, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs in five at-bats, led the charge to secure Atlanta's 90th win and postseason qualification.

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*This content was translated by AI.