Lee Jung-hoo's batting average collapses to below .300 + pickoff throw → Song Sung-moon's stolen base attempt fails; no one could smile... San Diego secures a walk-off victory in the bottom of the 9th [SF-SD Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Former Kiwoom Heroes teammates Song Sung-moon (30, San Diego Padres) and Lee Jung-hoo (28, San Francisco Giants), who appeared on the same field after a long time, left behind regrets.

On the 2nd (Korean time), Lee Jung-hoo started as the second hitter and right fielder in the visiting game against San Diego at Petco Park in San Diego, California, during the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season. He recorded five at-bats, one hit, one run scored, two strikeouts, and one failed stolen base.

It was a game that fell far short of expectations. In the top of the first inning with one out, Lee Jung-hoo reached first base on an infield grounder in his first at-bat. Leading runner Bryce Eldridge was thrown out at second base. There was also a disappointing baserunning play. While Elliott Ramos was at bat, Lee Jung-hoo attempted to steal second base but was picked off by Walker Buehler's throw.

Ramos struck out swinging, ending the inning. In the top of the third with the score tied 2-2, Lee Jung-hoo reached on an infield hit after fouling a high pitch from Buehler with two outs. Following Ramos' infield single and Rafah El Devers' line drive single to left field that scored him at third base, Willie Adames drew a bases-loaded walk and crossed home plate. San Francisco took a 3-2 lead.

Lee Jung-hoo's performance ended there. He flew out to right field with no outs and first base occupied in the top of the fifth inning. In the top of the seventh with one out, he struck out swinging on three pitches against Adrian Morejon. In his final at-bat in the top of the ninth, he was helplessly struck out by Mason Miller's high-velocity slider.

As a result, Lee Jung-hoo's season batting average dropped from .300 to .298, causing his batting average to fall below .300 once again. His OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) also fell to 0.763, moving further away from the 0.800 mark. The only consolation was that his hitless streak, which had ended on the previous day (the 1st), resumed.

Song Sung-moon of San Diego, who entered as a pinch runner, also committed a baserunning error. With the score tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning, he was inserted as a pinch runner when Ty France reached on an infield hit. However, while attempting to steal second base during Jackson Merrill's at-bat, he was thrown out by Daniel Suarez' strong arm. Fortunately, subsequent batters also struck out, mitigating the disappointment. Song Sung-moon remained in the game as the second baseman but did not get another at-bat opportunity. His season statistics remain at 51 games played, a .212 batting average (99 at-bats, 21 hits), one home run, 15 RBIs, 16 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases, with an OPS of 0.599. This was his third failed stolen base attempt this season.

Meanwhile, San Diego secured a thrilling 6-5 walk-off victory in the bottom of the ninth inning thanks to Jake Cronenworth's two-run single to center field. Although San Francisco recorded 12 hits and San Diego only 10, San Diego displayed better concentration. The first run came in the bottom of the first with two outs. Manny Machado drew a bases-loaded walk from Tyler Malone, and Ty France reached on a line drive single to left field.

Merrill hit a two-run double to left field, giving San Diego a 2-0 lead. Despite allowing three runs in the third inning, San Diego regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth with one out and first base occupied when Fred Fermin hit a home run over the left-field fence. They added another run in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. Boggs' single to right field forced Malone off the mound, and the replacement pitcher, Keaton Winn, committed a balk.

With two outs and runners on second base, Fermin hit a one-run single to left field that beat the third baseman's throw, extending San Diego's lead. San Francisco's comeback was no easy task either. With San Diego leading 5-3 in the top of the eighth inning, Devers hit a single to center field, Adames drew a walk, and Suarez hit a line drive single to left field, loading the bases with no outs. Drew Gilbert and Grant McCray struck out consecutively, but Vasquez hit a two-run double down the left-field line, tying the score at 5-5.

The home team San Diego ultimately won. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Boggs opened the scoring with a double to left field and advanced to third base on Fermin's sacrifice bunt. Fernando Tatis Jr., after receiving four intentional balls, stole second base on an indifferent throw. Cronenworth then hit a ball to center field off Drew Smith's fast pitch, ending the game.

The starting pitcher matchup favored San Francisco. Tyler Malone of San Francisco pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing five hits (one home run), issuing three walks (two free passes and one hit-by-pitch), striking out nine batters, and giving up five earned runs. Walker Buehler of San Diego pitched 4⅓ innings, allowing eight hits (one home run), issuing two walks, striking out one batter, and giving up three earned runs. For San Diego, Ty France went 3-for-4 with four hits, and Boggs went 2-for-4 with two hits and two runs scored, opening the path for their offense. Fermin went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs; Cronenworth went 2-for-5 with one RBI; and Merrill went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, fulfilling the role of a closer. San Francisco had four multi-hit batters, but it was not enough to prevent the team defeat.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.