Kim's improbable pinch-hit single lifts Braves past Dodgers in ninth
Ha-Seong Kim, batting .066 this season, delivered a two-out pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth to score Lane Thomas and give Atlanta a 6-5 win over Los Angeles. The hit was Kim's first since June 3, ending an 0-for-27 slump. The Braves have now trimmed the Dodgers' lead in the National League standings to 1.5 games with back-to-back comeback victories.
Kim entered with a .066 average and five hits in 76 plate appearances, having not recorded a hit since June 3. His 0-for-27 skid ended on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, a sharp single to left off Tanner Scott, who had converted 19 saves. The Braves trailed by 3.5 games entering the series and have now won two straight late-inning games, pulling within 1.5 of Los Angeles. Thursday’s finale pits Chris Sale against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, with Atlanta seeking a sweep.
This win could shift momentum in the National League race, tightening the gap between two contenders and raising the stakes for their remaining meetings. For Kim, a struggling bench player, the moment may restore confidence and alter his role in high-leverage situations. Fans and analysts may view the comeback as a sign of Atlanta’s resilience, though one game does not guarantee postseason outcomes.