The Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to three games on April 16, 2026, dominating the New York Mets 8-2 at Dodger Stadium. The victory was fueled by a standout performance from Shohei Ohtani on the mound and a breakthrough power surge from Kim Hye-seong.
Kim Hye-seong provided the early spark for Los Angeles, launching his first home run of the season to secure the lead. Starting the game as the eighth hitter and shortstop, Kim stepped up in the bottom of the second inning with two outs and a runner on second. He connected on a 95 mph (151.9 km/h) sinking fastball from Mets starter Clay Holmes, driving a two-run shot over the right-field wall to break a 0-0 deadlock. This first home run of the year came in Kim’s eighth game of the season, following a three-homer debut campaign last year.
While Kim’s blast provided the offensive cushion, Shohei Ohtani delivered a masterclass in pitching. Operating exclusively as a pitcher for this outing, Ohtani earned his second win of the season (now 2-0) with a commanding performance. He tossed six innings, allowing only one run on two hits and two walks, while racking up 10 strikeouts.
The Dodgers continued to build their lead in the sixth inning when Teoscar Hernández hit a solo home run to center field, extending the score to 3-1 before the team eventually cruised to an 8-2 finish. This dominant victory further solidifies the team’s early-season momentum.
Despite the early heroics, Kim Hye-seong struggled in his remaining plate appearances, striking out in his final three at-bats, including a three-pitch strikeout in the fourth and another in the sixth against pitcher Tiberius Myers. He finished the day 1-for-4, which slightly lowered his season batting average from .286 to .278 (5 hits in 18 at-bats).
