Kim Ha-seong Shines with First Fall Ball Run and Spectacular Defense! ATL Fails to Hold 2-Run Lead in 8th, Falls 3-4 in Extra 10th 'Heading to Game 3' [NLWS 2]

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Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves) recorded his first on-base appearance and run of the postseason while also demonstrating his presence in the field.

On the 1st (Korean time), at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Kim Ha-seong started as the ninth hitter and shortstop against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 2 of the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) National League Wild Card Series (NLWS, best-of-three). He went 0-for-1 with one walk and one run scored.

Atlanta, which had won Game 1 on the previous day (September 30) with a 5-3 comeback victory, held a 3-1 lead but allowed a tie in the 8th inning before falling to a 3-4 defeat after conceding a go-ahead home run in the 10th inning of extra innings. The series score is now one win and one loss for each team. The two teams will determine the National League Division Series (NLDS, best-of-five) participant in Game 3 on the 2nd at the same venue.

Kim Ha-seong, who had gone 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in his first postseason appearance in four years, was again trusted as the ninth hitter and shortstop. Despite injuries and severe batting struggles this season, resulting in a .116 batting average, zero home runs, and nine RBIs in 51 regular-season games, Atlanta included him in the Wild Card Series roster and named him the starting shortstop for both Game 1 and Game 2.

Atlanta’s lineup featured Ronald Acuna Jr. (right fielder), Drake Baldwin (designated hitter), Ozzie Albies (second baseman), Matt Olson (first baseman), Mauricio Dubon (left fielder), Austin Riley (third baseman), Michael Harris II (center fielder), Sean Murphy (catcher), and Kim Ha-seong (shortstop). Tyler Mahle started on the mound.

Facing them, Philadelphia’s lineup was Turner (shortstop), Kyle Schwarber (designated hitter), Bryce Harper (right fielder), Alec Bohm (first baseman), Bryson Stott (second baseman), Brandon Marsh (left fielder), Edmundo Sosa (third baseman), Justin Crawford (center fielder), and J.T. Realmuto (catcher). The starter was left-handed power pitcher Christopher Sanchez.

Sanchez’s primary weapons are a sinker averaging over 95 miles per hour, with a top speed of 99 miles per hour (approximately 159.3 km/h). In the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) this year, he delivered a strong performance against South Korea, pitching five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, leaving a lasting impression on Korean baseball fans as well.

Kim Ha-seong harassed Sanchez persistently from his first at-bat. Leading off the bottom of the 3rd inning while trailing 0-1, he did not swing at a baiting pitch on the outside corner and drew a walk after a full count battle. It was his first on-base appearance in this postseason. However, with no follow-up hits, he could not reach home.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, he retired on a foul fly to the catcher, but the most critical moment came in the 7th inning when the game was tied 1-1. After leadoff hitter Murphy reached on a walk, Kim Ha-seong bunted for sacrifice from the first pitch. First baseman Bohm, who fielded the bunt, threw to second base to get the runner out, but Murphy’s legs were faster. Kim Ha-seong also reached first base safely, setting up runners on first and second with no outs. The official record was a sacrifice bunt by Kim Ha-seong.

Acuna Jr. struck out, but left fielder Harper failed to properly handle Baldwin’s hit, which resulted in an RBI double. Murphy scored, and Kim Ha-seong advanced to third base. Albies then reached on an intentional walk, followed by Olson hitting a sacrifice fly to center field. Kim Ha-seong crossed home plate comfortably, extending Atlanta’s lead to 3-1.

However, Kim Ha-seong’s first postseason run did not translate into a victory. Mahle pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out six batters and giving up one run, but Atlanta’s bullpen wavered. Closer Dylan Lee, who had allowed only three home runs in 71 regular-season games, gave up consecutive home runs to two batters. In the top of the 8th inning, Schwarber hit a massive solo shot over the center field fence, and immediately after, Harper also launched a solo home run over the right field wall. The game was tied 3-3 in an instant.

Kim Ha-seong showed his presence on defense as well. In the top of the 9th inning, he chased down a deep ground ball to third base hit by leadoff hitter Sosa and threw strongly to first base for the out. Sosa grabbed his hamstring during his full-speed sprint and was eventually substituted. Kim Ha-seong finished the game by being replaced in the bottom of the 9th inning with Mike Yastrzemski (36).

The decision went to extra innings. In the top of the 10th inning, with two outs, Bohm pushed a fastball from Didier Fuentes over the right field fence. It was a 357-foot (approximately 108.8-meter) go-ahead solo home run. Atlanta had a final chance in the bottom of the 10th inning after getting two runners on base with two outs, but pinch hitter Dominic Smith struck out against Andrew Painter, ending the game.

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*This content was translated by AI.