Rays' Choi Ji-man smacks 5th homer, takes team RBI lead
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- With his fifth home run of the season powering a nine-game hitting streak, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays has also taken the club lead in RBIs.
Choi belted a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Thursday (local time). Choi's blast proved to be the difference in the Rays' 2-1 victory, their third in a row.

In this Associated Press photo, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his two-run home run off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas during the bottom of the fourth inning of a Major League Baseball regular season game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on June 9, 2022. (Yonhap)
Batting third, the South Korean first baseman took starter Miles Mikolas over the right field fence with a line drive shot. He put a charge into a sinker left out over the plate, and the ball left Choi's bat at 99.6 mph.
With 29 RBIs, Choi has overtaken Randy Arozarena for the club lead, despite having played in 16 fewer games, 55 to 39. Choi, who missed time earlier in the year with a right elbow injury, also leads Tampa Bay regulars in on-base plus slugging percentage with .851.

In this Associated Press photo, Choi Ji-man of the Tampa Bay Rays (L) celebrates with teammate Yandy Diaz after their 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in a Major League Baseball regular season game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on June 9, 2022. (Yonhap)
The home run was Choi's first of June and the first since May 29 against the New York Yankees. It was also Choi's only hit of the game in three at-bats but enough to stretch his hitting streak to a season-best nine games.
Choi has raised his batting average from .258 to .278 in that span.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
TXT's new EP contains members' personal experiences of being tempted
-
Support for Ahn doubles after Na quits PPP leadership race: poll
-
TXT's new album sold 1.8 mln copies on 1st day, highest after BTS
-
Yoon's approval rating slips for 3rd week: poll
-
Opposition leader says he will appear again before prosecutors for questioning
-
(LEAD) Most people masked up on 1st day of lifting of mandate rules
-
Nat'l pension anticipated to be fully drained in 2055: NPS
-
S. Korea's gas, coal imports hit record high in 2022: data
-
Support for Ahn doubles after Na quits PPP leadership race: poll
-
(LEAD) Two Chinese warplanes entered KADIZ earlier this week: S. Korean military
-
S. Korea to test-launch new 'high-power' Hyunmoo ballistic missile this week: source
-
S. Korea submits proposal to Turkey on new nuclear power project
-
U.S., S. Korea agree to expand joint military drills, take strong steps against N. Korean provocations
-
China imposes mandatory virus tests for arrivals from S. Korea only in latest protest over curbs
-
S. Korea to demand clarification from top Asian sports body over Russia's Asian Games participation