'His hitting has changed': Lee Jung-hoo's multi-hit performance, batting average surges from 0.185 to 0.253 after 5-game hitting streak... Team secures 7-6 victory in extra innings, launching a 'three-game winning streak' [SF Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) has finally begun to awaken. His hitting feel has fully returned, and his hitting statistics are rising sharply.

On the 19th (Korea time), Lee started at the sixth spot in the lineup as the right fielder in the MLB visit game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., going 2-for-6 with one strikeout and one run scored.

Lee, whose hits had rarely found the gap, has come alive with a five-game hitting streak. On this day as well, he produced all infield hits, recording his sixth multi-hit game of the season (two or more hits in a single game). His season batting average rose from 0.246 to 0.253 (75 at-bats, 19 hits), his on-base percentage increased slightly from 0.308 to 0.310, and his slugging percentage dipped from 0.377 to 0.373. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) stood at 0.683.

San Francisco's lineup featured Will Adams (shortstop), Luis Arraez (second baseman), Matt Chapman (third baseman), Rafael Devers (first baseman), Casey Schmidt (designated hitter), Lee Jung-hoo (right fielder), Elliot Ramos (left fielder), Drew Gilbert (center fielder), and Patrick Bailey (catcher). The starting pitcher was Adrian Houser.

San Francisco began the game allowing a solo home run to James Wood in the bottom of the first inning, conceding one run. They immediately counterattacked in the top of the second. Lee, leading off with one out, opened the scoring. Facing opposing starter Cade Cavalli, he hit a low 97 mph (156.1 km/h) four-seam fastball on a 1-1 count, driving a hit that dropped in front of the right fielder.

The subsequent baserunning was somewhat disappointing. Ramos hit a large double to the left field that struck the fence on a one-bounce, and Lee, advancing from second and third, was tagged out at home. Fortunately, when Gilbert hit an infield single, Ramos scored, tying the game at 1-1.

However, Houser wavered in the bottom of the second. With a hit, an error, and a walk loading the bases, a groundout at home recorded an out, but a hit-by-pitch allowed the lead to be surrendered. Lee then gave up a two-run RBI single to Luis Garcia and a one-run RBI single to Jose Ten, falling behind 1-5.

San Francisco rallied again. They cut the deficit by two runs in the top of the third. With two outs and a runner on second, Lee stepped up to the plate again, but his attempt to hit an outside sinker on a 3-1 count resulted in a groundout to the third baseman.

In the sixth inning, Lee rekindled the offense. With one out and no runners on base, Lee came to the plate for the third time. On a 2-2 count, he skillfully lifted an outside slider from left-handed pitcher Mitchell Parker, driving a hit that cleared the infield for a line drive single to center field. It was a hit created by Lee's hitting technique.

Ramos then hit a two-run home run over the left-field fence, his second of the season. Both Lee and Ramos crossed home plate, tying the game at 5-5.

Momentum shifted to San Francisco in the top of the seventh. Adams hit a single, followed by an opposing wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Devers, allowing the Giants to take the lead.

Victory seemed within reach, but the Giants ultimately surrendered a tie in the bottom of the ninth. San Francisco called upon Ryan Walker, but after a double and an intentional walk, with one out and runners on first and third, Chapman made a bold throw home to catch the runner at the plate during a groundout by Curtis Mead. However, Brady House's single sent the game into extra innings.

The tenth inning began with a tiebreaker. Schmidt struck out, and Lee entered the plate but was also struck out following a questionable strike call. San Francisco failed to score.

In the bottom of the tenth, San Francisco intentionally walked Ryan Walker to load the bases. They gave up a hit to Jacob Young, creating a bases-loaded, no-out crisis. However, Walker struck out both Dylan Lyle and Nasim Nunez in succession, then induced a ground ball to the shortstop from Yovani Bivas, extending the game to the eleventh inning.

San Francisco failed to add runs in the top of the eleventh, retiring in order. In the bottom of the eleventh, they allowed no baserunners except for an intentional walk to Caleb Kilian, sending the game into the twelfth inning.

In the top of the twelfth, Chapman hit a single to left field, and runner Arraez scored from second. Lee grounded out to the third baseman on a foul fly. In the bottom of the twelfth, Lee caught a fly ball to left field from C.J. Abrams and a fly ball to right field from Jacob Young, also preventing a runner from advancing to third. Caleb Kilian struck out Lyle looking, securing a thrilling 7-6 victory.

With the three-game winning streak, San Francisco improved to 9 wins and 12 losses, narrowing the gap with top teams in the National League West Division.

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*This content was translated by AI.