'Shock' Lee Jung-hoo's 'Absurd and Reckless' Dash to Home Plate → Why Was He Substituted Out?... It Turns Out the Third-Base Coach Issued a Dangerous Instruction 'Kim Hye-seong's Single and RBI Overtakes Ohtani's CHOO for New History' [LAD-SF Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Close friends' Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) and Kim Hye-seong (27, Los Angeles Dodgers) faced off for the first time this season. Lee Jung-hoo recorded two hits and one RBI, while Kim Hye-seong also posted one hit and one RBI, both delivering strong performances. Additionally, Shohei Ohtani finally succeeded in reaching base in 53 consecutive games. The team that smiled was San Francisco.

Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Hye-seong both started in the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) matchup between the Dodgers and the Giants, held at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, USA, at 10:45 a.m. Korean time on the 22nd.

Lee Jung-hoo started as the sixth hitter and right fielder, recording two hits and one RBI in three at-bats. Kim Hye-seong started as the seventh hitter and shortstop, recording one hit, one RBI, and one walk in one at-bat. San Francisco defeated the Dodgers 3-1.

On this day, San Francisco started with Landon Leup. The starting lineup was arranged as follows: Will Adams (shortstop), Luis Arraez (second baseman), Matt Chapman (third baseman), Rafah Devers (first baseman), Case Schmidt (designated hitter), Lee Jung-hoo (right fielder), Elliott Ramos (left fielder), Drew Gilbers (center fielder), and Patrick Bailey (catcher).

The Dodgers started with Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The batting order was composed as follows: Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Kyle Tucker (right fielder), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Teoscar Hernandez (left fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Dalton Rushing (catcher), Kim Hye-seong (shortstop), Alex Cole (center fielder), and Alex Freeland (second baseman).

In the bottom of the first inning, San Francisco scored three runs against Yamamoto, seizing the initiative over the Dodgers. Leadoff hitter Adams hit an infield single. Kim Hye-seong fielded a deep ball to shortstop and threw it toward first base, but it sailed over the bag, completely missing first base. The official record was Kim Hye-seong's throwing error.

Following Arraez's single to left field and Chapman's walk, a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity was created. Devers hit a sacrifice fly to center-left field, and Schmidt hit a sacrifice fly to center field. In the ensuing one-out, first-and-third situation, Lee Jung-hoo stepped up to the plate. Lee Jung-hoo utilized precise bat skills to handle Yamamoto's first pitch, connecting it for a sacrifice fly to center-left field. The score became 3-0.

Kim Hye-seong also launched a counterattack. In the top of the second inning, with two outs and no runners on base, Kim Hye-seong hit a line drive single to center field after receiving the third pitch in an unfavorable 0-2 count. However, the following batter grounded out to second base, and no runs were scored.

The Dodgers scored their only run of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning, thanks to Kim Hye-seong's RBI. Leadoff hitter Freeman drew a walk, and after one out, Muncy and Rushing drew consecutive walks to create a bases-loaded opportunity. Here, Kim Hye-seong drew a walk-off walk after an eight-pitch battle. In the bottom of the fourth, Lee Jung-hoo appeared as the leadoff hitter but grounded out to center field.

The controversial incident of the day occurred in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, San Francisco was on offense. With two outs, Lee Jung-hoo reached base with a single to right field. The next batter was Ramos. After a full count, Ramos hit the seventh pitch for a single to center field. At this moment, Lee Jung-hoo began running from second base to third base and then dashed toward home plate. The Dodgers' center fielder Cole threw the ball to second baseman Freeland, who immediately threw it home. Lee Jung-hoo leaped near home plate to avoid the tag, but it was essentially a complete out timing. The result was an out. It was a dangerous moment where he could have collided with the ground and been injured. After being called out, a scene was captured where Lee Jung-hoo appeared to express his emotions.

If this had been Lee Jung-hoo's solo judgment, it could be considered a head-first play. However, it turned out that Lee Jung-hoo did not dash to home plate based on his own judgment alone. Justice Delos Santos, a San Francisco correspondent for the local U.S. media Mercury News, immediately posted on his personal social networking service (SNS): "Third-base coach Hector Borja made a very aggressive judgment. He waved his arm, instructing Lee Jung-hoo, who started from first base, to run home. Cole loosely covered the relay play, but he easily caught Lee Jung-hoo at home plate."

Kim Hye-seong was scheduled to lead off in the top of the seventh inning but was substituted for Miguel Rojas, ending his game for the day. In the top of the seventh, with two outs, Ohtani stepped up to the plate. Ohtani had previously been retired with a strikeout in the first inning, a strikeout in the third inning, and a fly out to right field in the fifth inning. He eventually hit an infield single, surpassing Choo Shin-soo (44, current SSG Landers chairman advisor)'s record for most consecutive games reaching base by an Asian player in the majors (52 games), writing a new history with 53 consecutive games. Lee Jung-hoo was substituted out before the defensive play in the top of the eighth inning, ending his game for the day. It is reported that he did not suffer a serious injury. Ultimately, the Dodgers were retired in order in the top of the ninth inning, concluding the game with a victory for San Francisco.

Lee Jung-hoo's season statistics after today's game are: 23 games played, batting average 0.259 (81 at-bats, 21 hits), 1 home run, 6 doubles, 9 RBIs, 8 runs scored, 7 walks, 13 strikeouts, on-base percentage 0.311, slugging percentage 0.370, and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) 0.681. Kim Hye-seong's season statistics are: 13 games played, batting average 0.333 (27 at-bats, 9 hits), 1 home run, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs, 5 runs scored, 6 walks, 8 strikeouts, 3 stolen bases (0 failed), on-base percentage 0.441, slugging percentage 0.519, and OPS 0.960. Ohtani, who succeeded in reaching base in 53 consecutive games, tied for second place on the Dodgers' all-time list for most consecutive games reaching base (53 games, 2000, Sean Green). Yamamoto pitched well with seven innings, six hits allowed, two walks, seven strikeouts, and three earned runs, but he bore the burden of defeat without support from his team's offense.

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*This content was translated by AI.