▲ Atlanta Braves’ Ha-seong Kim.
SPOTV News’ Kim Geon-il — Ha-seong Kim launched a would-be homer and later executed a perfect squeeze bunt in a standout performance that helped spark Atlanta’s comeback.
On May 23 (Korean time) at Truist Park in Atlanta, Ga., Kim started at shortstop and batted eighth in the Braves’ matchup with the Washington Nationals, finishing 1-for-5 with an RBI.
After a lengthy rehab, Kim made his season debut on May 13. In his second game, against the Chicago Cubs, he recorded his first hit of the year.
The hits then went cold: he went 0-for-13 across four games.
Kim picked up his second hit of the season on May 20 against the Miami Marlins and followed with another hit on May 22. He reached base in back-to-back games and looked to be regaining his rhythm.
In the third inning, facing Miles Mikolas, Kim battled to a full count before striking out on a 93.8-mph fastball.
In the fifth, with two outs and a runner on first, Kim turned on an 87.5-mph slider from Mikolas and drove a towering shot to the deepest part of Truist Park. Washington center fielder Jacob Young leaped and crashed into the center-field wall to haul it in.
▲ Ha-seong Kim
The ball left the bat at 100.3 mph with a 27-degree launch angle and was estimated to travel 400 feet. According to Baseball Savant, that fly ball would have been a homer in five of MLB’s 30 parks (Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Angel Stadium, Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium and Petco Park). Its expected batting average was .510.
The decisive play came in the seventh. Right after Atlanta tied the game, Kim came up with one out and runners on first and third and laid down a bunt down the line between the catcher and first base. The placement and pace were perfect — the run scored and Kim’s RBI put the Braves ahead 2-1.
In the ninth, with the game tied 2-2 and two outs with a runner on second, Kim had a chance for a walk-off but grounded out to third.
Atlanta left Truist Park riding a three-game winning streak and having taken three of four from Miami. They ultimately won 5-4 in extra innings for their 36th victory — the most in MLB so far this season.
▲ Atlanta Braves starter Bryce Elder.
The Nationals struck first in the sixth when leadoff hitter Curtis Mead launched a solo homer.
Atlanta evened the score in the seventh. With one out and runners on first and second, Dominic Smith ripped an RBI single into right to tie the game.
But the Braves’ go-to reliever Robert Suarez faltered. In the eighth, with one out, he allowed a game-tying solo homer to CJ Abrams.
Both clubs traded two runs in the 10th, and the game was decided in the 11th. With two outs and a runner on second, Chadwick Tromp lined a single to center to bring the runner home and end it, 5-4.
Miles Mikolas was the story on the mound for Washington. Used as the second pitcher in an opener approach, he entered in the second inning and delivered five scoreless frames, allowing three hits and striking out three.
Bryce Elder gave Atlanta a strong start — six innings, five hits, four strikeouts and one run allowed — but received no-decision after the offense failed to provide enough support.
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