Kim Ha-seong 2-for-2 with a double and Choi Ji-Man 2-for-2 with a walk…

Playing in the same uniform for the first time, Kim Ha-seong (김하성) and Choi Ji-man (최지만) each drove in two runs and celebrated the formation of the San Diego Padres Korean Duo.

Kim also broke the record for most stolen bases in a season by a Korean big leaguer.

Kim went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two stolen bases in the leadoff spot in the lineup for the San Diego Padres’ 2023 Major League Baseball home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park in San Diego, California, on Friday (June 5).

Choi Ji-Man, batting seventh, also saw the field for the first time since being acquired from San Diego, drawing two walks (one hitless) and scoring two runs.

It’s only the second time in franchise history that the two Koreans have started together for the same team.

Choi Ji-Man started alongside Bae Ji-Hwan in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform against the Cincinnati Reds on April 3 of this year, marking the first time a Korean hitter has ever started a game together in the major leagues, and they have started a total of five games together in Pittsburgh.

When Choi was traded from Pittsburgh to San Diego on February 2, the Pittsburgh Korean Duo was disbanded and the San Diego Korean Duo was born.

Kim Ha-seong showed off his batting prowess from the first at-bat.

Leading off the bottom of the first inning, Kim ducked low and crushed a four-pitch curveball from Dodgers rookie starter Bobby Miller for a single to right field. It extended his hitting streak to 10 games, which began on July 25 at Pittsburgh.

The next batter, Fernando Tatis Jr. flied out to center field, and Juan Soto followed with a grounder to short.

As Soto struck out, Kim raced to second base, turned his body to the right to avoid the tag and touched second base. The Dodgers requested a video review, but the safe call was upheld.

Kim added his second stolen base in two games against the Colorado Rockies, and with his 23rd stolen base, he set a new record for most stolen bases in a season by a Korean big leaguer.

The previous record was 22, set by Choo Shin-soo (now SSG Landers) in 2010 with the Cleveland Indians.

In his third year in the big leagues, Kim Ha-seong, who has established himself as a “ball-, field-, and week-perfect infielder,” surpassed Choo’s record after 13 years.

Kim led off the third inning with a single to left field on Miller’s 162 mph sinker, extending his streak to 12 consecutive games with multiple hits (two or more in a game). It was also Kim’s 100th hit of the season.

After Tatis Jr. grounded out to second base, Kim stole another base off Soto’s bat. He now has 24 stolen bases in a single season in the Korean Major Leagues.

In the eighth inning, Kim drew a walk, his third of the day.

Kim’s season batting average increased from .284 to .287 (349-for-100).

Choi did not have a hit, but he drew two walks and reached base twice.

After striking out in his first at-bat in the second inning, Choi drew a walk with one out in the fourth. After advancing to second on Luis Camposano’s single to right and third on Trent Grisham’s infield grounder, Choi scored on a fastball from Dodgers catcher Will Smith that came off the bat of Kim Ha-Sung.

After crossing the plate, Choi touched hands with Kim.

With the bases loaded in the sixth, Choi led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Camposano, and scored on Grisham’s single to right.

Choi was replaced by pinch-hitter Garrett Cooper in the bottom of the eighth, ending the game a bit early.

Choi’s batting average dropped from .205 to .203 (15-for-74) on the season. However, his on-base percentage increased from 0.224 to 0.241.

Despite the Korean duo’s performance, San Diego fell to 5-10 against the Dodgers.

San Diego starter Darvish Yu pitched seven innings of five-hit ball and two runs to take a 3-2 lead, but the bullpen gave up eight runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

Robert Suarez (San Diego), the younger brother of Albert Suarez who plays for the Samsung Lions in the KBO, took the loss after giving up five runs on two hits and four walks, including a wild pitch, in ⅔ of an inning. 파워볼사이트