'Oh no!' Lee Jung-hoo sidelined again on back pain; aims to return on the 23rd, while SF gets swept in three-game series against ARI, falling into a 'three-game losing streak'

*This content was translated by AI.

San Francisco Giants' Lee Jung-hoo (28) sat out for the second consecutive day due to lingering back pain. With the team's key leadoff hitter absent, San Francisco ultimately lost all three away games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, falling into a three-game losing streak.

On the 21st (Korea time), Lee Jung-hoo was excluded from the starting lineup for the away game against Arizona at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, and remained on the bench for the entire game.

Lee Jung-hoo, who started as the leadoff right fielder in the game against Arizona on the 19th but was substituted in the bottom of the fourth inning due to lower back muscle pain, has now taken a break for two consecutive games, following the game on the 20th.

The manager is cautious against overinterpreting the situation. Tony Vitello, San Francisco's manager, hinted in an interview with local media on the 20th that "Lee Jung-hoo's condition is not severe enough to warrant placement on the injured list (IL)," indicating that his absence was for simple rest.

The organization also calculated that it is better to encourage Lee Jung-hoo's complete recovery rather than force him to play. Coincidentally, San Francisco has no game scheduled for the 22nd. Seina Rubin, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, reported that "Lee Jung-hoo plans to recover his physical condition through sufficient rest, including the day off when there are no games." Lee Jung-hoo is expected to return to full action starting with the home game against the Chicago White Sox on the 23rd after regaining his composure.

However, San Francisco's lineup struggled without the "grandson of the wind." San Francisco fell to Arizona 3-6, suffering a sweep in the three-game series against Arizona.

San Francisco, now trapped in a painful three-game losing streak, sits at 20 wins and 30 losses, holding fourth place in the National League West Division. Meanwhile, Arizona, riding a four-game winning streak, recorded 25 wins and 23 losses, firmly securing third place in the division.

Today's game was sharply divided by the starting pitcher matchup. San Francisco's starter, Tyler Malley, struggled, allowing eight hits including one home run over five innings, giving up six earned runs, and taking the loss.

In contrast, Merrill Kelly, the Arizona starter and a former KBO player, shone with his performance. Kelly, who served as an ace for four seasons with SK Wyverns (now SSG Landers) and is familiar to Korean fans, pitched six innings, allowing eight hits (one home run), striking out four batters, issuing no walks, and giving up three earned runs, delivering a quality start (six or more innings with three or fewer earned runs) to lead his team to victory. San Francisco's lineup was stifled by Kelly's experienced game management, losing complete control of the game from the early innings.

For San Francisco, which must break its losing streak, the healthy return of the "fast and hard-hitting" Lee Jung-hoo in the game on the 23rd, after a day of rest, has become more urgent than ever.

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*This content was translated by AI.