'With' WBC Korea game 'that monster' pitcher → Lee Jung-hoo, another dominant 'K-K' matchup... 'Amazing'... Team suffers heartbreaking walk-off loss in the bottom of the 9th

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) fell silent after failing to get a hit in the first game of the doubleheader.

On the 1st (Korean time), Lee Jung-hoo started at the seventh spot in the batting order and played center field in the first game of the doubleheader against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, during the 2026 MLB regular season away game, recording 4 at-bats with no hits. The team suffered a walk-off loss in the 9th inning, 2-3.

On this day, the San Francisco Giants started with right-handed ace Logan Webb on the mound. The batting order was Elliott Ramos (left fielder), Matt Chapman (third baseman), Luis Arraez (second baseman), Kyle Schmidt (designated hitter), Rafah Devers (first baseman), Will Adams (shortstop), Lee Jung-hoo (center fielder), Gerar Encanacion (right fielder), and Patrick Bailey (catcher).

In response, the Philadelphia Phillies also started with left-handed ace Christopher Sanchez. Sanchez was the same pitcher who had started for the Dominican Republic, Korea's quarterfinal opponent, in the March World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournament. The starting lineup consisted of Tray Turner (shortstop), Kyle Schwarber (designated hitter), Bryce Harper (first baseman), Adolis Garcia (right fielder), Brandon Marsh (left fielder), Bryson Stott (second baseman), Edmundo Sosa (third baseman), Justin Crawford (center fielder), and Rafah Marchen (catcher).

Originally, this game was scheduled to take place on the 30th of last month. However, it was canceled due to rain and rescheduled as a doubleheader, which was played on this day.

After this game, Lee Jung-hoo's season statistics stood at 30 games played, a batting average of 0.290 (107 at-bats, 31 hits), 2 home runs, 10 RBIs, 13 runs scored, 0 stolen bases (0 failed), 8 walks, 17 strikeouts, a slugging percentage of 0.439, an on-base percentage of 0.333, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.772.

Lee Jung-hoo faced his first at-bat in the top of the 1st inning with two outs and runners on first and second base while the team held a 2-0 lead. He attempted to hit Sanchez's 95.3 mph (153.4 km) sinker located in the middle of the plate on the first pitch but was retired on a ground ball to second base.

Lee Jung-hoo stepped up to the plate for his second at-bat in the top of the 4th inning while the San Francisco Giants led 2-1. He watched the first pitch, a 95.6 mph (153.9 km) sinker low in the zone, and then fouled off the second pitch, a 94.7 mph (152.4 km) sinker inside. The third pitch was a 95.6 mph (153.9 km) sinker outside. The count became 1-2. Then on the fourth pitch, Lee Jung-hoo swung and missed at a 95.7 mph (154.0 km) sinker dropping low, resulting in a strikeout.

Lee Jung-hoo faced Sanchez again in the top of the 6th inning while the team still held a 2-1 lead. This time, the at-bat went to six pitches, but he was retired again on a swinging strikeout. With two outs and no runners on base, Lee Jung-hoo attempted a bunt on the first pitch, a 94.9 mph (152.7 km) sinker, but it was fouled off. The second pitch was an 86.9 mph (139.9 km) slider dropping low, which was called a ball. The third pitch was a 96.3 mph (155.0 km) sinker inside the low zone, and Lee Jung-hoo swung and missed. Another 96.3 mph (155.0 km) sinker came in on the same path, and Lee Jung-hoo swung but fouled it off. The fifth pitch was a ball far outside. Then on the sixth pitch, he swung at an 86.1 mph (138.6 km) changeup diving low inside but swung and missed.

Lee Jung-hoo changed his defensive position from center field to right field in the bottom of the 7th inning. He appeared as the leadoff hitter in the top of the 9th inning while the team continued to lead 2-1. This time, he faced left-handed reliever Tanner Banks. With a 0-1 count, he attempted to hit the second pitch, a sweeper, but was retired on a fly ball to left field, leaving him with regret.

Meanwhile, the first run of the day was scored by the San Francisco Giants in the top of the 1st inning. With no outs and runners on second and third, Ramos scored from third on a ground ball to the second baseman by Arraez. Then, on a sacrifice fly to left field by Schmidt, Chapman scored from third, putting the team ahead 2-0. The Philadelphia Phillies immediately began their comeback. In the bottom of the 1st inning with one out, Schwarber came to the plate and hit a solo home run over the fence off Webb, making the score 2-1.

After that, both teams' batters were unable to score much due to the strength of the pitchers on the mound, but the tight game was overturned in the bottom of the 9th inning during the Philadelphia Phillies' offensive turn. With two outs and a runner on first, Stott hit a triple that dropped just inside the right-field line, allowing Garcia to score and tie the game at 2-2. Following a subsequent infield hit by Crawford, Stott scored from third base, and ultimately the Philadelphia Phillies secured a thrilling comeback victory with a final score of 3-2.

With this loss, the San Francisco Giants fell to two consecutive losses, marking 13 wins and 17 losses, placing them fifth in the National League West Division. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Phillies succeeded in winning two consecutive games, recording 11 wins and 19 losses, ranking fourth in the National League East Division.

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*This content was translated by AI.