Translation result. 
[Sports Seoul | Reporter Bae Woo-geun] Ha-seong Kim (Atlanta Braves) continues to struggle at the plate. He earned a start after missing three straight games but was held quiet again, while teammate Jorge Mateo homered and made his case for more playing time.
Kim started at shortstop and hit eighth in Atlanta’s road game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on June 1 (Korean time). He went 0-for-3 with one strikeout.
It was a hard-fought chance to get back into the lineup, but the result didn’t change.
In the second inning, Kim turned on a Nick Lodolo curveball and squared up a hard-hit ball that went straight to the left fielder. He struck out in the fifth and, as the leadoff hitter in the seventh, flew out to left.
He was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the ninth.
Kim is 0-for-14 over his last four games. His season numbers have slid to a .089 batting average (4-for-45) with a 0.269 OPS.
Jorge Mateo, who has been splitting time with Kim, started as the designated hitter and homered for the second straight game.
Mateo is hitting .316 with a 0.876 OPS. His speed and defense have long been assets, and his bat coming around has expanded his role.
Atlanta has increasingly leaned on Mateo for starts. While Kim spent three consecutive games on the bench, Mateo has started regularly and produced.
The Braves fell 4-6, snapping their bid for a fourth straight win. They remain atop the National League East, but Kim’s prolonged slump is becoming a mounting concern.
kenny@sportsseoul.com
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