'This is absurd.' Lee Jung-hoo, who was held back due to an outrageous umpire's call against Chapman in the 9th inning... 'It was painful' with 4 at-bats and no hits [Lee Jung-hoo Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo (28) sadly failed to get a hit and remained silent. Even well-hit balls were caught in front of the famous 'Green Monster' at Fenway Park, the home stadium of the opposing Boston Red Sox. Furthermore, in the 9th inning, he had no choice but to have his own strike zone shaken due to an umpire's erroneous call.

On the 24th (Korean time), Lee Jung-hoo started as the cleanup hitter and right fielder in the away game against Boston at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, during the 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season, but had to swallow his regrets with 4 at-bats and no hits.

With no hits today, his batting average finally fell below the .290 barrier. It has been about three months since his batting average dropped below .290, following the Colorado Rockies game on May 31.

After this game, Lee Jung-hoo's season statistics stand at 119 games played, a .289 batting average (454 at-bats, 131 hits), 9 home runs, 27 doubles, 4 triples, 46 RBIs, 58 runs scored, 20 walks, 49 strikeouts, 9 stolen bases (1 failed), a .324 on-base percentage, a .425 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.749.

The starting pitcher for San Francisco was Matt Wilkinson. The batting order was Osleivis Basabe (second baseman), Rafah Devers (designated hitter), Will Adamses (shortstop), Bryce Eldridge (first baseman), Victor Bericoto (left fielder), Lee Jung-hoo (right fielder), Andrew Kizner (catcher), Jonah Cox (center fielder), and Christian Coase (third baseman).

The starting pitcher for Boston was Jake Bennett. The starting batting order consisted of Jamai Jones (designated hitter), Sedan Rafahella (center fielder), William Abreu (right fielder), Wilson Contreras (first baseman), Caleb Durbin (third baseman), Nick Sogard (second baseman), Andrew Monasterio (shortstop), Eli White (left fielder), and Connor Wong (catcher).

Lee Jung-hoo stepped up to the plate with one out and runners on first and second as San Francisco took an early 2-0 lead. After watching the first pitch for a ball, Lee recorded foul tip strikes on the second pitch, an outside sinker, and the third pitch, a low inside changeup. He then drove the fourth pitch, a 92.9 mph (approx. 149.5 km/h) four-seam fastball high and outside, well, but it was caught by left fielder White's jumping catch on the warning track in front of the Green Monster. The distance was 334 feet (approx. 101.8 meters), with a launch angle of 30 degrees.

Lee Jung-hoo faced his second at-bat in the top of the third inning with two outs and a runner on first. This time, he was bold. As Bennett's first pitch, a 91.4 mph (approx. 147.1 km/h) sinker came right down the middle, Lee swung immediately. However, it sadly resulted in a ground ball to second base, forcing him to hang his head.

Lee Jung-hoo stepped up for his third at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out and no runners on base as his team trailed 3-5. After recording a foul on the third pitch, a sinker that caught the low zone with a 1-1 count, Lee Jung-hoo eventually tried to attack a 79.5 mph (approx. 127.9 km/h) sweeper that was slightly off the low zone on the fourth pitch but was out on a fly ball to the shortstop.

The final at-bat was also regrettable. Lee Jung-hoo appeared as the leadoff hitter in the top of the ninth inning with his team trailing 4-5 by one run. The opposing pitcher was '38-year-old veteran fireballer' Aroldis Chapman. Lee Jung-hoo very well selected a 97.2 mph (approx. 156.4 km/h) sinker that was slightly off the low outside zone on the first pitch. However, the call on the second pitch was problematic. Umpire James Jin called it a strike on a 94.3 mph (approx. 151.8 km/h) sinker that was about one ball low. Although Lee Jung-hoo showed a moment of restraint as if he were about to swing, the umpire's call ended the at-bat. However, Lee Jung-hoo had two ABS challenge opportunities remaining but did not request one.

Unable to simply wait for another similar pitch after the previous erroneous call, Lee Jung-hoo swung at the third pitch, an 87.8 mph (approx. 141.3 km/h) slider that dropped low and outside, but it was a foul ball. He also fouled off the fourth pitch, a splitter that came inside on the body zone at 91.3 mph (approx. 146.9 km/h). Finally, he hit the fifth pitch, a 98 mph (approx. 157.7 km/h) four-seam fastball that came inside on the outside zone, but it resulted in a ground ball out to the pitcher. Chapman stretched his hand upward to well catch the once-bounced ball and threw to first base to record the third out. Chapman even smiled after recording the out.

Ultimately, San Francisco lost 4-5 by one run as fielders retired side-by-side in the top of the ninth inning. With four consecutive losses, San Francisco maintained fourth place in the National League West with a record of 52 wins and 78 losses. Boston, on a three-game winning streak, secured third place in the American League East with a record of 71 wins and 59 losses.

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*This content was translated by AI.