Kim Ha-seong powers Padres past KBO's Twins in exhibition before MLB Seoul opener

Kim Ha-seong, center, of the San Diego Padres celebrates his second home run with his teammates during the clubs' exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, March 18. Yonhap

Behind two home runs by their Korean star Kim Ha-seong, the San Diego Padres defeated the defending Korean Series champions LG Twins 5-4 on Monday, their final exhibition game before opening the 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season here later this week.

Kim, the Gold Glove-winning infielder, flexed his muscle with a pair of two-run blasts to pace the Padres' offense.

Go Woo-suk of the San Diego Padres throws a pitch during the clubs' exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, March 18. Yonhap

The Padres' one other Korean player, reliever Go Woo-suk, got a ho-hum save after giving up a two-run homer to his former Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) team in the bottom of the ninth.

For the Twins, captain Oh Ji-hwan hit a solo homer off the new Padres starter Dylan Cease, who was acquired in a trade with the Chicago White Sox just before the Padres boarded their flight to Seoul last week.

Twins starter Im Chan-kyu struck out seven in five solid innings in a losing cause.

Im struck out the side in the first inning, but then Manny Machado led off the second inning with a double.

Kim followed up with a two-run homer to left-center field, putting the Padres up 2-0.

Oh cut the lead in half with one swing of the bat, sending a 3-2 cutter from Cease, the 2022 American League Cy Young Award runner-up, into right-field seats.

But Kim was at it again, this time hitting a two-run homer off reliever Jung Woo-young in the top sixth for a 4-1 Padres lead.

The Twins got a run back on an RBI groundout by Park Hae-min in the bottom sixth.

The Padres responded right away in the top seventh, with Fernando Tatis Jr. delivering an RBI single to restore a three-run lead for the Padres at 5-2.

Go, who signed with the Padres in January after seven seasons with the Twins, entered the bottom ninth in a save situation. With one out in the ninth, Go served up a two-run home run to Lee Jae-won to make the game a little more interesting.

Go settled down and retired the next two batters to pick up his first spring training save.

Twins manager Youm Kyoung-youb said the game should provide both clubs with some fond memories.

"I think we're building up nicely for our new season," he said. "We didn't get a ton of hits but overall, it was not such a bad game."

Youm was Kim Ha-seong's first KBO manager with the Kiwoom Heroes, and the two chatted briefly before the game. Youm wished nothing but the best for his former pupil.

LG Twins starter Im Chan-kyu pitches against the San Diego Padres during an exhibition game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, March 18. Yonhap

"I think Chan-kyu did a great job helping Ha-seong find his groove with that home run," Youm quipped.

Mike Shildt, San Diego's manager, called Kim's two-homer performance "fantastic."

"You can't script it much better," he said. "He showed up today. It was a big couple of swings. I loved his approach. He fought his tail off the first at-bat, fouling tough pitches off and then putting a good swing on it. So, a nice job."

The Padres will face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday and Thursday for the two-game Seoul Series, back at Gocheok. These will be the first MLB games to be played in Korea. (Yonhap)