Bae Ji-hwan (Pittsburgh Pirates) showed his tenacious competitive spirit by hitting full counts in all four at-bats. His eight-game hitting streak set a new record for the longest hitting streak since his major league debut. He contributed to the team’s winning streak by showing surprising defense in defense.
Bae Ji-hwan appeared as the first hitter and center fielder in the ‘2023 Major League’ game against the Washington Nationals held at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on the 14th (Korean time). He finished the game, going 3-for-4 with 1 hit, 1 walk, and 1 stolen base. He had a full count game in all four of his at-bats, forcing opposing pitchers to throw as many as 29 pitches. He even recorded his 23rd stolen base in the 4th inning.
His hitting streak extended to eight games. Bae Ji-hwan had a hit in all eight games, starting with 1 hit in 4 at-bats against the Milwaukee Brewers on the 6th and ending with the game against Washington on the 14th. It is his longest hitting streak since his major league debut. He started all eight games and established himself as the number one hitter, recording a batting average of 0.281 with 9 hits in 32 at-bats in 33 at-bats. The overall performance for the season is a batting average of 0.245 and an OPS of 0.634.
Pittsburgh won 7-6. Every time Bae Ji-hwan got on base, a follow-up hit followed and a score was scored. Closer David Bednar struggled, but Bae Ji-hwan made the final out.
It was a full count match from the start. When Washington starting pitcher Jackson Rutledge’s first three pitches all ended up being balls, Bae Ji-hwan chose to wait. However, the next two pitches came into the strike zone. I brought out the bat on the 6th pitch, but it was a foul.
All six pitches up to this point were fastballs. Rutledge chose a different pitch for the first time in seven pitches. However, Bae Ji-hwan responded lightly. He responded by bending down to deal with a changeup that flowed outward, and the batted ball became a heavy hit that passed next to the second base base.
Bae Ji-hwan’s hit ignited Pittsburgh’s batting lineup. The next batter, Brian Reynolds’ batted ball, fell in front of left field and became a lucky hit. Then, Brian Hayes hit a long ball that passed the key to right field. Bae Ji-hwan easily hit home on Hayes’ timely double. It was a score that made up for Pittsburgh starter Colin Selby’s error in the first inning.
Jack Suwinski’s batted ball fell on a similar course as if it were a copy of Reynolds’ hit, leading to a timely hit with 1 RBI. The pitching coach came to the mound and tried to resolve the situation, but with bases loaded and one out, Joshua Palacios’ timely hit to right and Riober Peguero’s timely hit to left led to a score of 4-1. Pittsburgh’s first inning attack ended with ninth batter Jared Triolo’s fly ball to right field.
Bae Ji-hwan made a good hit in the second inning, hitting a full count against Rutledge. When the 7th pitch change-up came, I swung the bat. However, this time it was a fly ball heading straight to right field.
In the 4th inning, he showed off his leading idea in a situation where there was no runner with one out. This time, he faced Rutledge and engaged in a full-count battle, picking out a fastball on the 6th pitch and walking. Ji-Hwan Bae, the next batter, stole second base during Reynolds’ at-bat and then advanced to third base due to an opponent’s error. He walked home on a home run that hit Reynolds’ right pole.
The 6th inning was also a full count. Bae Ji-hwan, who faced Washington’s third pitcher, Robert Garcia, with no runners and one out, took the game to the 9th pitch with three consecutive fouls on a full count. But he struck out on a foul tip on a slider.
In the 7th inning, the defense blocked a long ball to right-center field. Right fielder Palacios attempted a sliding catch, avoiding a collision and putting his glove exactly where the ball fell. Palacios was impressed by Bae Ji-hwan’s batting average, and Kamen Murzynski, who was watching the batted ball from the mound, smiled brightly at Bae Ji-hwan.
Pittsburgh led 7-1 until the 4th inning, but lost 4 runs in the 5th and 6th innings, falling behind by 2 points. Ryan Borucki, who appeared as the third pitcher in the 6th inning, put out the fire with 1⅓ innings, 1 walk, and no runs. Muzinski completed the 7th inning safely with the help of Bae Ji-hwan, and Colin Holderman came up in the 8th to protect the 2-point lead and add a hold.
Finisher Bednar finished the game after a struggle. The start was ominous. First batter Travis Blankenhorn’s foul fly was missed by shortstop Alika Williams. In the end, Blankenhorn reached base with a walk.메이저사이트
Bednar received consecutive hits from Luis Garcia and Kybert Luis, narrowing the score gap to 7-6. Bednar faced Jake Alou with the ball count down to 3-0, but successfully induced a ground ball to get the first out.
Then, with one out and runners on first and third base, Ildemaro Vargas was walked and the bases loaded. Against CJ Abrams, he threw a fastball in the middle of a full count and struck out a missed swing. With bases loaded and 2 outs, Lane Thomas was hit by a fly ball to center field. Bae Ji-hwan ran to right-center and caught the batted ball. Pittsburgh had two consecutive wins following a 5-1 win on the 13th.