Lee Jung-hoo's '3-run triple explosion' boosts win probability from 43.9% to 84%... yet the team loses again [SF Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The "hitting machine" Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) failed to record a multi-hit game but hit a decisive triple that significantly raised his team's win probability. Nevertheless, San Francisco suffered another painful defeat.

On the 26th (Korean time), Lee Jung-hoo started at sixth spot and right fielder in the 2026 MLB home game against the Athletics at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, USA, going 1-for-4 with 1 run, 3 RBIs, and a standout performance.

Lee Jung-hoo's season batting average dipped slightly from 0.333 to 0.332 (274 at-bats, 91 hits). His on-base percentage also fell from 0.367 to 0.365, but his slugging percentage rose from 0.474 to 0.478. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) reached 0.843. He maintained second place in batting, trailing only National League (NL) batting leader Otto Lopez (Miami, 0.340), who sat out that day.

Facing left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs, Lee Jung-hoo struck out on a low slider in his first at-bat in the bottom of the 2nd inning. In the bottom of the 4th, with two outs and no runners on base, he again attacked a slider but was retired on a fly ball to left field.

After allowing two runs to the Athletics in the top of the 5th on three consecutive hits, Lee Jung-hoo led a big inning in the bottom of the 6th.

With San Francisco trailing 1-2, Lee Jung-hoo came to the plate in the bottom of the 6th with two outs and bases loaded after Bryce Eldridge walked, Casey Schmidt singled, and Will Adames walked. Facing Matt Crook, another left-handed pitcher who had taken over from Springs, Lee Jung-hoo fell behind 0-2 in the count but fouled off the third and fourth pitches before swinging at a 82.2 mph (132.3 km/h) sweeper that moved in on his body on the fifth pitch.

With technical batting, he pulled the inside pitch, and the ball headed toward right field. Right fielder Lawrence Butler leaped but could not reach the ball. Instead, the ball dropped behind him, allowing the runners who had already taken off to all head for home. Lee Jung-hoo also confirmed the dropped ball, then advanced through first and second base to reach third. It was his third triple of the season.

With two outs and bases loaded, and San Francisco trailing 1-2, the team's win probability stood at 43.9%. However, after Lee Jung-hoo's sweep triple turned the score to 4-2, the win probability surged by 40.1 percentage points to reach 84%.

The Athletics, who had given up the decisive triple to Lee Jung-hoo, eventually made another pitching change. However, Justin Stunner allowed Victor Bericoto to hit a two-run home run over the center field wall, completely shifting the momentum to San Francisco. Lee Jung-hoo also scored, and San Francisco's win probability rose by an additional 10.3 percentage points to reach 94.3%.

However, they could not maintain a four-run lead over three innings. After Rander Loop, who allowed two runs over six innings, was relieved, Ryan Walker came in but struggled. In the top of the 7th with two outs and runners on second and third, Walker was eventually pulled. Relief pitcher Eric Miller allowed a walk to Nick Korts, then gave up a two-run single to Shea Langeliers.

In the top of the 8th, Dylan Smith came in but allowed another run. Although San Francisco was down by just one run, they could not pull away. Lee Jung-hoo also bowed his head in the bottom of the 8th with two outs, this time on a groundout to the first baseman. In the top of the 9th, closer Caleb Kilian came in but, after allowing a hit and an error, gave up a walk even after recording two outs, then surrendered a tying single to Yona Heim. He also allowed a go-ahead hit to Butler, and the score eventually became 6-7. Then, he gave up a two-run single to Max Muncy, and the deficit widened to 6-9.

In the bottom of the 9th, the San Francisco lineup retired in order, and the team remained in fourth place in the NL West with 33 wins and 47 losses.

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*This content was translated by AI.