Atlanta's Kim Ha-sung, who failed to hit 11 consecutive games the day before the start again, overcame disappointment and resumed hitting from his first at-bat. The team failed to win 11 games in a row

Sep 25, 2025

Kim Ha-sung (Atlanta Braves), who was frustrated after trying to hit 11 consecutive games, a new personal record, shook off his disappointment and threw a hit from his first at-bat. However, Atlanta failed to achieve its 11th consecutive win, losing 3-4 despite a last-minute chase.

Kim Ha-sung started the home game against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, in the early morning of the 25th (Korea time) and recorded one hit in four at-bats.

Atlanta coach Brian Snitker formed the lineup in the order of Jurickson Profar (left fielder), Matt Olson (first baseman), Ronald Acuña Jr. (right fielder), Drake Baldwin (catcher), Kim Ha-sung (striker), Marcel Ozuna (DH), Michael Harris II (center fielder), Nacho Álvarez (third baseman), and Nick Allen (second baseman). It's almost the same batting order as the previous day. In the bottom batting order, No. 6 Ozuna and No. 7 Harris II exchanged seats with each other, and Brett Weisley was out as second baseman and Allen came out.

No. 5 hitter Kim Ha-sung hit from his first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning.

Kim Ha-sung, who came to his first at-bat after one out in the bottom of the second inning, trailing 0-1, played a persistent full-count game against Washington left-hander Andrew Alvarez. Kim Ha-sung, who has recently recovered his batting sense, is targeting the pitcher with more leeway than before at bat. After picking out two balls following the first pitch strike, he allowed a strike outside for the fourth pitch to become 2B2S.

Then, Kim Ha-sung, who picked out a body ball (curve) on the fifth pitch and filled out the full count, hit a four-seam fastball (92.6 miles) that entered the strike zone on the sixth pitch. A slightly missed pitch became a lucky hit. It deflected off the glove of second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. and rolled in front of center field. Kim Ha-sung stepped on first base with ease.

Kim Ha-sung, who took first base, advanced to second base on a subsequent walk by Marcel Osuna. He then went to third when Michael Harris II grounded out to second base with one out and runners on first and second bases. First base front runner Osuna was forced out of the second base, but hitter Harris Jr. lived at first base. With two outs and runners on first and third bases, Kim Ha-sung had a chance to score.

However, Kim Ha-sung did not make it to the groove. The next batter, Nacho Alvarez Jr., ended up fouling out the third baseman.

Kim Ha-sung, who got a lucky hit in his first at-bat, came out to the second at-bat in the bottom of the fourth inning with one out and one on the first base.

This time, the opposite result came out from the first at-bat in the bottom of the second inning. The ball itself was a hard hit caught in the center of the bat, but it was caught by the opponent's good defense. When the third slider (82.7 miles) was driven to the middle in the ball count 1B2S against Alvarez, he pulled it vigorously. It was a hard hit with a batting speed of 95.8 miles. But the ball flew straight to left field. Washington left fielder Daleon Ryle easily caught a ball that flew in like a bullet.

Kim Ha-sung, who failed to add a hit despite his hard hit, later came to the third at-bat after two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning when leadoff hitter Baldwin's solo home run made it 1-3.

This time, he faced bullpen pitcher Julián Fernández. Kim Ha-sung, who picked out the ball outside the first pitch, pushed four-seam (95.6 miles) into the strike zone slightly outside the second pitch. It seemed to go out to the foul area, but Washington right fielder Dylan Crews ran all the way to catch the ball.

Kim Ha-sung, who failed to add a hit in two consecutive at-bats, reappeared as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning. He faced opposing bullpen pitcher Jackson Rutledge. The first and second pitches are strikes on the low-course outside. Kim Ha-sung, whose ball count became unfavorable, lightly hit the outer slider for the third pitch. The ball grazed the pitcher's side. But he didn't fully penetrate the infield. Second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. was waiting. Garcia Jr., who caught the ball, threw to first base and out-handled Kim Ha-sung. Atlanta then followed Harris II with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to 2-4.

Meanwhile, Kim Ha-sung made a double play with agile and natural movements during defense in the top of the ninth inning. Kim Ha-sung, who caught Garcia Jr.'s ball on the first and second bases with no outs, ran calmly and stepped on the second base before sending an accurate throw to the first base to catch the second out count. Thanks to Kim Ha-sung's defense, Atlanta overcame an additional loss crisis.

Atlanta, which overcame the run crisis thanks to Kim Ha-sung's defense, chased down 3-4 with a solo home run by pinch hitter Eli White, who came out to bat as a leadoff hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning, trailing 2-4. However, Profar and Olson were struck out in a row afterwards, and Acuña Jr. survived on an infield hit after a video review, but Baldwin lost by hitting a ground ball to second base. Baldwin was also ruled safe at first, but this time the game ended with an out after a video review. Kim Ha-sung came out to the waiting at-bat and went back.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.