The Buzz — Thursday, August 27

Ha-Seong Kim

The take Unlikely pinch-hit hero ends long slump vs Dodgers

The Dodgers intentionally walked Austin Riley to get to him. That is the part of this story the walk-off single does not change.

Kim's single off Tanner Scott — 103.0 mph exit velocity, line drive to left, Lane Thomas scoring, 6-5 final — was genuine clutch contact, the kind that leaves the bat harder than anything he has squared up all year. But it was his first hit since June 3. He was 5-for-76 on the season. He had gone 0-for-27 since his last hit. One line drive does not move those numbers far enough to be a turnaround.

The Braves signed him for one year and $20 million to be the everyday shortstop. He is not. He came back from the injured list on Aug. 3 into a utility role, and before Wednesday he had not appeared in a game since Aug. 15 — just 31 games all season. The finger surgery and the July inflammation that sent him back to the IL made this a season spent more in recovery than in the lineup. The hero moment was real, and so is the 5-for-76. The crowd is right to cheer it and wrong to think it changes the season.

Ha-Seong Kim cards on eBay →(paid link)

Tristan Peters

The take Rookie extends HR streak to five, ties club marks

Five straight games with a home run ties the White Sox franchise record and matches the longest streak by an MLB rookie — shared with Frank Thomas, Paul Konerko, Ron Kittle, and teammate Munetaka Murakami. Wednesday's two-run shot was his first career home run off a left-handed pitcher, which says this is more than a hot week against righties. Peters now has 12 home runs on the year, and the White Sox are the first team since at least 1900 with two rookies carrying five-game streaks in a single season. The power is real, and the tie is genuine.

Tristan Peters cards on eBay →(paid link)

Kyle Schwarber

The take first to 40 HRs in a Phillies shutout

Schwarber became the first player in baseball to reach 40 home runs this season, a three-run shot estimated at 425 feet into right-center off Bryan Woo's 98-mph fastball in the second inning. The homer made it 6-0, and that was the game — the Phillies shut out Seattle 6-0.

The number that earns its space is not 40 but four. This is Schwarber's fourth 40-homer season with the Phillies, tying Ryan Howard for the most in franchise history. Schwarber's four tie him with Ohtani and Judge for the most among active players. He has 380 career home runs now, with Olson and Alvarez trailing at 36 each. The 40th was a milestone. The fourth 40-homer season is the one that holds — and the Phillies at 74-60 need exactly the kind of bat that does this every year.

Kyle Schwarber cards on eBay →(paid link)

Dustin May

The take May hit by liner, exits after one pitch in Brewers win

One pitch, and May was done — A.J. Ewing's 106 mph line drive caught him in the right shoulder blade on the game's first offering. The diagnosis was a right scapula contusion, X-rays negative. May said the impact "took my breath away" but later felt better with motions, and manager Pat Murphy remained hopeful he could start early next week. Robert Gasser replaced him, the Brewers won 8-1, and the early exit cost them nothing. The imaging ruled out anything structural. The next start hinges on how he feels.

Dustin May cards on eBay →(paid link)

Cody Bellinger

The take Bellinger's clutch double sparks Yankees win over Astros

The bases were loaded in the seventh, the score was 3-all, and Bellinger drove Bennett Sousa's 1-1 fastball off the top of the center-field fence — scoring Grisham and Rice, putting the Yankees ahead, and opening the way to a 9-3 win over Houston.

The honest line is 1-for-5, and the double was his only hit. The value was all timing — a tiebreaking swing with the bags full in a game the Yankees needed. They improved to 75-57, still 3 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and 2 1/2 ahead of Boston for the top wild card. A thin box-score line, but the one swing that broke it open. Good work when the moment called for it.

Cody Bellinger cards on eBay →(paid link)