When the team’s key hitter returned, Ha-seong Kim (28, San Diego Padres) had to spend the day on the bench. San Diego was unable to continue the trend of victory the previous day amid the lethargy of the other line.
San Diego lost 1-2 in the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) home game against the Chicago Cubs held at Petco Park in San Diego, California on the 3rd (Korean time).안전놀이터
Ahead of the game, good news was delivered to San Diego. Manny Machado (31), who suffered a fractured left hand from a pitch against Kansas City on the 16th of last month, returned to the lineup that day. Although it is sluggish with a batting average of 0.231 and 5 homers in 40 games this season, it goes without saying that the weight of the batting line changes depending on the presence or absence of Machado.
San Diego deployed Machado as the fifth batter and third baseman, and Lougned O’Door as second baseman. In the process, the infield was saturated, and Kim Ha-seong, who mainly played second and third base this season, started the game from the bench.
Despite the return of a star player, San Diego consistently played a difficult game. San Diego, which created a crisis with one out on first and third base in the defense in the beginning of the third inning, scored the first run with Ian Happ’s infield ground ball. Then, in the top of the 5th, he gave up another run with a solo shot from Dansby Swanson.
San Diego’s Lougned O’Door (left) celebrates after hitting a double in the bottom of the 6th inning against the Chicago Cubs on the 3rd (Korean time).
San Diego, who had been silent, raised the score of the pursuit in the 6th inning. San Diego, whose leadoff hitter, Odore, survived with a double, followed with a one-run lead after Zander Bogarts scored an infield hit that flowed to third base. Then, with two outs, Juan Soto’s walk came out, but it did not lead to an additional run.
San Diego had the best chance in the ‘injury fighting spirit’ at the end of the 8th inning. Odore reached base with a hit that escaped into the outfield, and center fielder Mike Tuckman failed to catch and headed to second base. In the process, Odor limped and finally touched the second base despite feeling pain in his lower body. Kim Ha-seong, who was on the bench, was put into the game as a major runner for Odor.
Then, with Trent Grisham’s walk, San Diego created a golden chance on 1st and 2nd base. However, Bogatz, who hit the right time in the 6th inning, recorded a painful double hit this time, and even Fernando Tatis Jr. struck out and failed to score.
In the end, San Diego was unable to tie the game in the ninth inning and lost. Kim Ha-seong, who started defending second base in the top of the ninth inning, showed good defense by handling Christopher Morel’s tricky ball well, but he could not get into the plate.