'Hit three hits, then strikeout-strikeout' Lee Jung-hoo falls silent; team fails to hold 3-run lead and loses in extra innings [SF Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants) remained silent with two strikeouts, unable to prevent his team from losing in extra innings.

On the 19th (Korea time), Lee Jung-hoo started as the leadoff right fielder against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, U.S., in a 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) away game. He went hitless in four at-bats with two strikeouts.

After a slump to start July, Lee Jung-hoo bounced back on the 18th against Seattle with three hits, building momentum. However, he remained silent today, causing his batting average to drop from 0.307 to 0.304. His on-base percentage and slugging percentage also fell from 0.340 and 0.433 to 0.336 and 0.428, respectively. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) stood at 0.764.

In the top of the second inning, Lee Jung-hoo faced starting pitcher Brian Woo with one out and a runner on first base. After watching two balls on the first two pitches, he fouled off fastballs on the third and fourth pitches before swinging and missing at an outside-breaking changeup on the fifth pitch for a strikeout.

In the bottom of the third inning, San Francisco scored first. With one out and a runner on first base, consecutive hits by Luis Araez and Bryce Eldridge allowed second baseman Drew Gilbert to score.

Lee Jung-hoo faced Brian Woo again in the top of the fourth with one out and a runner on first. This time, he swung aggressively from the first pitch. He targeted an 87.1 mph (140.2 km/h) slider, but the ball was hit at 99.8 mph (160.6 km/h) with a launch angle of -3 degrees, resulting in a groundout to second baseman Cole Young.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, San Francisco took the lead when Rafah Devers hit a solo home run (his 20th of the season) over the left-field wall off Brian Woo. It initially appeared to be a foul ball. The launch angle reached 44 degrees, the ball was pulled toward left field, and Devers' batting stance looked awkward.

However, after Devers requested video review, it was confirmed that the ball cleared the left-field wall, awarding an additional run. Lee Jung-hoo struck out swinging on a low slider with two outs and runners on first and second, but Willy Adames then hit another solo home run (his 17th), extending the lead to 3-0.

Victory seemed within reach, but Seattle tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. Logan Webb, who had pitched scoreless through six innings, faced trouble with one out when he walked Randy Arozarena and issued a straight fastball walk to Josh Naylor. He got Carl Lally out on a third baseman's fly ball, but then surrendered a three-run home run (his 12th) to Cole Young, leaving his head bowed.

In the top of the eighth inning with two outs and a runner on first base, Lee Jung-hoo stepped up again. This time, he faced Eduardo Bazardo and targeted a 95.8 mph (154.2 km/h) sinker that moved toward the center of the plate in a 1-1 count. The ball stayed low and resulted in a groundout to the third baseman.

The eighth-inning crisis was resolved by San Francisco. Sam Hensig hit a single off Dominic Canzone with two outs and a runner on first, putting runners on first and third. Relief pitcher Keaton Winn then walked Arozarena, loading the bases. However, he got Naylor out on a second baseman's ground ball, allowing his team to breathe a sigh of relief.

Both teams failed to score in the ninth inning and headed into extra innings. In the top of the 10th inning, with Daniel Sues placed at second base to start a tiebreaker situation, Araez grounded out to shortstop and Eldridge flew out to center field. The Giants intentionally walked Casey Schmidt to set up a confrontation between Devers and the pitcher, but Devers struck out, sending Seattle to bat in the bottom of the 10th.

San Francisco brought in Dylan Smith, while Seattle started the inning with Victor Robles at second base. Colt Emerson laid down a sacrifice bunt to create a runner on third with one out, and J.P. Crawford drew a walk after a seven-pitch at-bat.

San Francisco brought in Dylan Smith, while Seattle started the inning with Victor Robles at second base. Colt Emerson laid down a sacrifice bunt to create a runner on third with one out, and J.P. Crawford drew a walk after a seven-pitch at-bat. Julio Rodriguez then hit a large fly ball toward left field. The runner on third, Robles, tagged up and easily scored, sealing a 4-3 victory for Seattle.

San Francisco, which had won three consecutive games, now sits in fourth place in the National League West with a record of 42 wins and 56 losses. Seattle improved to 49 wins and 50 losses, narrowing the gap to 1.5 games behind first-place Texas Rangers in the American League West.

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*This content was translated by AI.