'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, for the 2026 Major League Baseball (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, South Korea's quarterfinal opponent, in the March World Baseball Classic (WBC) tournament. The starting lineup was composed 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 was 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, as the team held a 2-0 lead. Lee Jung-hoo attacked Sanchez's first pitch, a 95.3 mph (153.4 km) sinker aimed at the center of the plate, but was retired on a grounder to second base.

Lee Jung-hoo stepped up to the plate for his second at-bat in the bottom of the 4th inning with the San Francisco Giants leading 2-1. He watched the first pitch, a 95.6 mph (153.9 km) sinker low in the zone, and 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 that missed outside, making the count 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 bottom of the 6th inning, with the team still leading 2-1. This time, the at-bat went to six pitches, but Lee Jung-hoo 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. A 96.3 mph (155.0 km) sinker came in on the same path for the fourth pitch, and Lee Jung-hoo swung, but it was fouled off. The fifth pitch was a ball that missed far outside. Then, on the sixth pitch, Lee Jung-hoo swung at an 86.1 mph (138.6 km) changeup that dipped 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. Lee Jung-hoo appeared as the leadoff hitter in the top of the 9th inning, with the team still leading 2-1. This time, he faced left-handed reliever Tanner Banks. After a 0-1 count, he attacked 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, Luis Arraez's grounder to the second baseman allowed runner Ramos to score from third. Then, Kyle Schmidt's sacrifice fly to left field allowed runner Chapman to score, putting the Giants ahead 2-0. The Philadelphia Phillies immediately began their comeback. In the bottom of the 1st inning with one out, Schwarber stepped up to the plate and hit a solo home run over the fence off Webb, making the score 2-1.

Afterward, as both teams' batters struggled to score against the strength of the mound, the tight game was overturned in the bottom of the 9th inning during the Philadelphia Phillies' attack. 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 Crawford's infield hit, runner Stott scored from third, and the Philadelphia Phillies ultimately 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. They are currently in fifth place 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.