Kim Ha-seong's Bitter Fall Ends on the Bench... LAD Defeats ATL to Clinch NLCS Berth! Kim Hye-seong Makes Surprise Defensive Substitution Appearance

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The 2026 postseason for Kim Ha-seong (31) came to a disappointing close. With his team, the Atlanta Braves, eliminated from the playoffs, the "defending champions" LA Dodgers advanced to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) for the third consecutive year, cruising toward a World Series title.

On the 8th (Korean time), at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, the Dodgers defeated the Braves 4-1 in Game 4 of the 2026 Major League Baseball postseason National League Division Series (NLDS, best-of-five). With this victory, the Dodgers secured a series lead of 3 wins and 1 loss, locking in their NLCS berth. They will face the winner of the matchup between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Braves got off to a strong start. In the bottom of the first inning, with two outs and a runner on third base—set up by a hit and stolen base from leadoff hitter Michael Harris Jr., followed by an RBI single from Matt Olson—the Braves scored the opening run on a wild pitch from Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow.

However, the Dodgers quickly restored parity. In the top of the second inning, leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani reached base on a walk and attempted to steal second base. A throwing error by opposing catcher Sean Murphy allowed him to advance all the way to third. With one out and a runner on third, a pop-up hit into the infield by Max Muncy was dropped by shortstop Mauricio Dubon, allowing Ohtani to score and tie the game at 1-1.

The tight balance was broken in the top of the seventh inning. Facing a bases-loaded opportunity with two outs, Andy Pages hit an RBI double off reliever Robert Suarez, giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. In the top of the ninth inning, with one out, Muncy sealed the victory with a solo home run, ending the game at 4-1.

Meanwhile, the fortunes of the Korean players diverged sharply. Kim Ha-seong, who had endured a difficult year due to injuries and poor performance during the regular season, was left off the starting lineup that day and ultimately did not receive any substitution opportunities, watching his team's season end from the dugout.

As a result, Kim Ha-seong finished the regular season with a record of 51 games, batting .116 (15 hits in 129 at-bats), no home runs, 9 RBIs, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .359. In the postseason, he went hitless in five at-bats across four games, including the Wild Card Game, bringing his season to a lonely close.

In contrast, Kim Hye-seong made his first appearance of this postseason with an emotional defensive substitution at second base as the bottom of the ninth inning began, with his team leading 4-1. The Dodgers protected their lead without allowing further runs through a bullpen sequence following Glasnow (4⅔ innings, 1 run allowed), featuring Alex Vesia, Enrique Hernandez, Tanner Scott, and Edwin Diaz, to secure their championship series ticket.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original