Ha-Seong Kim delivered one of the biggest moments of his difficult 2026 season when he came off the bench and hit a walk-off single to give the Atlanta Braves a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kim’s ninth-inning hit drove home Lane Thomas and completed a comeback victory for Atlanta at Truist Park on Wednesday, August 26. The win gave the Braves their third straight victory and secured the season series against the Dodgers.

For Kim, the moment was especially meaningful because he had struggled badly at the plate this season and had not appeared in a game since August 15.

Dodgers vs Braves Result

Atlanta Braves 6-5 Los Angeles Dodgers

Date: August 26, 2026
Venue: Truist Park, Atlanta
Competition: Major League Baseball
Winning team: Atlanta Braves
Winning hit: Ha-Seong Kim walk-off single

The Dodgers and Braves produced another back-and-forth contest before Atlanta finally settled the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.

With two outs, Lane Thomas doubled against Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott. Atlanta then intentionally walked Austin Riley, bringing Kim to the plate.

Kim responded with a base hit to left field, allowing Thomas to score the winning run.

Ha-Seong Kim Becomes the Unexpected Hero

Kim was hardly the obvious choice to decide the game.

Before his ninth-inning appearance, he had been struggling enormously in 2026.

According to Reuters, Kim entered the at-bat hitting just .066, with five hits in 76 at-bats. It was also his first appearance since August 15.

Yet baseball can change quickly.

With the game tied at 5-5 and Atlanta needing one more hit, Kim stepped into the box as a pinch-hitter.

He delivered.

The single brought Thomas home and sent the Braves players and fans into celebration.

What Happened in the Ninth Inning?

The decisive sequence began with Lane Thomas.

Thomas reached second base with a two-out double against Tanner Scott.

The Dodgers then intentionally walked Austin Riley, choosing to pitch to Kim instead.

It was a calculated decision.

But Kim made Atlanta’s decision to use him pay off.

He lined a single to left field, and Thomas raced home to score.

Final: Braves 6, Dodgers 5.

The walk-off hit was Kim’s first hit of the game and arguably his most important hit of the season.

Why Was Ha-Seong Kim Not Starting?

Kim has had a difficult season with Atlanta.

His opportunities have been limited, and his offensive production has been well below his previous MLB standards.

Before the Dodgers series, questions had already emerged about whether Kim would receive another opportunity to start regularly.

He had struggled to establish himself ahead of other Atlanta infield options, while his poor offensive numbers made it difficult for the Braves to give him consistent playing time.

That made his walk-off hit even more unexpected.

Kim’s Difficult 2026 Season

The walk-off moment came after a season in which almost nothing seemed to go right offensively for Kim.

Baseball-Reference listed him at .066 batting average, .165 on-base percentage and .066 slugging percentage before the Dodgers game.

Those numbers were a dramatic departure from the player Braves fans expected when the club signed him.

Kim had previously established himself as a valuable MLB infielder, particularly because of his defense and ability to contribute on the bases.

The 2026 season, however, has been a major struggle.

Kim’s Previous Dodgers Connection

The Dodgers matchup carried additional interest because Kim was facing Los Angeles while playing for Atlanta.

However, his role in the game was limited until the dramatic ninth inning.

Rather than starting, Kim entered as a pinch-hitter with the game on the line.

That made the result even more remarkable.

A player who had spent much of the season searching for consistency suddenly became the deciding factor against one of baseball’s strongest teams.

How the Braves Built Their Lead

Kim’s walk-off hit was the final piece of a game that featured several momentum swings.

The Braves opened the scoring through Matt Olson, who hit his 37th home run of the season in the first inning.

The Dodgers responded in the second when Tommy Edman doubled and later scored.

Edman then gave Los Angeles a 3-1 advantage in the third inning with a two-run home run.

Atlanta responded again.

Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly cut into the deficit before Drake Baldwin delivered a two-run double to give the Braves a 4-3 lead.

Sean Murphy Extends Atlanta’s Lead

Atlanta added another run in the sixth inning.

Sean Murphy hit his first home run of the season, putting the Braves ahead 5-3.

At that point, Atlanta appeared to have control of the game.

But the Dodgers were not finished.

Los Angeles mounted another comeback in the seventh.

Dodgers Tie the Game

The Dodgers responded with a three-run sequence that brought the score level.

Shohei Ohtani opened the inning with a double before Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts followed with hits.

The Dodgers eventually loaded the bases, and Max Muncy drew a walk to bring Los Angeles within one.

Another bases-loaded walk to Tommy Edman then tied the game at 5-5.

The Dodgers even had opportunities to take the lead later in the game.

But Atlanta’s pitching managed to escape the danger.

Braves Survive Another Scare

Atlanta had its own opportunity in the eighth inning.

The Braves loaded the bases but failed to score after Mauricio Dubón grounded into a double play.

The Dodgers also threatened in the bottom half of the eighth before Atlanta escaped.

That set up the decisive ninth inning.

And that was when Kim produced the moment that everyone will remember.

Ha-Seong Kim’s Walk-Off Hit

Kim’s single was more than just a game-winning hit.

It was a moment of redemption.

After months of offensive struggles, limited playing time and questions about his role, Kim was given one opportunity.

He took advantage of it.

The Braves’ official MLB coverage described him as an unlikely hero, while manager Walt Weiss praised the perseverance involved in producing such a moment.

For Kim, it was a reminder that one swing can completely change the narrative surrounding a player.

Roki Sasaki Leaves Dodgers vs Braves Game

The game also produced concerning news for the Dodgers.

Los Angeles starting pitcher Roki Sasaki exited early after experiencing a blister issue.

Sasaki allowed four runs on six hits over 3⅓ innings before leaving the game.

Reuters reported that the Dodgers planned to place him on the 15-day injured list following the game.

That could become an important development for Los Angeles as the regular season enters its final stretch.

Key Performers in Dodgers vs Braves

Ha-Seong Kim — Braves

Kim delivered the biggest hit of the game, driving home the winning run with two outs in the ninth.

Lane Thomas — Braves

Thomas doubled with two outs in the ninth, putting himself in position to score the winning run.

Drake Baldwin — Braves

Baldwin had three hits and drove in two runs with his fourth-inning double.

Sean Murphy — Braves

Murphy recorded three hits and hit his first home run of the season.

Matt Olson — Braves

Olson hit his 37th home run of the season.

Tommy Edman — Dodgers

Edman hit a two-run home run and drove in three runs overall.

Dodgers vs Braves Final Score

Team	Runs
Los Angeles Dodgers	5
Atlanta Braves	6

The Braves won on Kim’s walk-off single in the ninth inning.

What Does the Win Mean for Atlanta?

The victory was significant beyond one game.

It gave Atlanta its third consecutive victory and secured the season series against Los Angeles.

The Braves also continued to strengthen their position in the National League race.

According to ESPN’s game report, Atlanta entered the game with a 78-55 record, while the Dodgers were 80-53.

The result therefore had major implications for two teams competing at the top end of the National League.

What Does the Loss Mean for the Dodgers?

Los Angeles suffered a second consecutive defeat in the series.

More importantly, the Dodgers lost despite taking a 3-1 lead and later tying the game at 5-5.

The injury to Sasaki adds another concern.

Los Angeles will now look to avoid a sweep in the series finale.

The scheduled matchup features Chris Sale for Atlanta against Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles. (ESPN)

Why Ha-Seong Kim Is Trending

Ha-Seong Kim is trending because of the dramatic contrast between his season-long struggles and his decisive performance against the Dodgers.

Before the game, his 2026 batting numbers were extremely poor.

Then, with the Braves needing one hit to win, Kim stepped up and delivered.

That storyline is almost perfect for baseball:

Struggling player.
Limited opportunities.
High-pressure situation.
Walk-off hit.

It was one of the most unexpected moments of the Braves’ season.

Ha-Seong Kim Dodgers vs Braves: Final Verdict

Ha-Seong Kim went from struggling Atlanta Brave to unlikely hero in a matter of seconds.

The 29-year-old infielder came off the bench in the ninth inning with the score tied at 5-5.

After Lane Thomas doubled and Austin Riley was intentionally walked, Kim was given the chance to win the game.

He did exactly that.

His single to left field brought Thomas home and gave the Atlanta Braves a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For Atlanta, it was another important victory.

For Kim, it was potentially much more.

After a season filled with frustration and uncertainty, one swing gave him perhaps his biggest moment in a Braves uniform.