The motivation was good, but the result was SF Lee Jung-hoo, who turned into the worst leadoff, achieved multi-hit + RBI. The juru was a fly in the ointment

Jul 21, 2025

The motivation was good, but the result was SF Lee Jung-hoo, who turned into the worst leadoff, achieved multi-hit RBI. The juru was a fly in the ointment



'It was a fighter-like attempt, but the result didn't support it'

Lee Jung-hoo of the San Francisco Giants, who returned to the leadoff, achieved a multi-hit in nine days, signaling the possibility of a rebound in batting average in the second half. However, he was hit by a baserunner while playing too aggressive, breaking the team's scoring momentum.

Lee Jung-hoo started as the first center fielder in an interleague away game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, early on the 21st (Korea time). It is the first time in 34 days that Lee Jung-hoo started as the leadoff and the first batter since the game against the Cleveland Guardians on June 18.




San Francisco, which has lost four consecutive games, attempted a major change in its starting lineup to prevent a sweep loss in the final game of three consecutive Interleague games against Toronto. The most noticeable change was Lee Jung-hoo's return to No. 1.

The motivation was good, but the result was SF Lee Jung-hoo, who turned into the worst leadoff, achieved multi-hit RBI. The juru was a fly in the ointment
San Francisco coach Bob Melvin's struggle to escape the losing streak is felt. Starting with Lee Jung-hoo, San Francisco organized the lineup in the order of Eliot Ramos (left fielder), Rafael Devers (designated hitter), Willie Adames (striker), Mike Yastremski (right fielder), Matt Chapman (third baseman), Dominic Smith (first baseman), Brett Weisley (second baseman), and Andrew Kisner (catcher).

Lee Jung-hoo, who returned as the first batter in 34 days, doubled and scored from his first at-bat in the top of the first inning, making Melvin's heart satisfied.




Lee Jung-hoo, who met right-hander Jose Berrios, who started in Toronto, hit a double in his first at-bat in the top of the first inning. After picking out the first ball, he pushed a 92.4 mile four-seam fastball that came into the middle of the second ball. The high-flying ball seemed to be caught by Toronto left fielder Davis Schneider.

However, Schneider missed the direction of the batting and couldn't catch the ball, perhaps because of the strong sunlight. In the meantime, Lee Jung-hoo settled to second base. Left field error was strong, but the official decision came out as a double. Luck followed. MLB.COM analyzed that Lee Jung-hoo's hit increased San Francisco's winning rate by 6%.

Lee Jung-hoo, who entered the scoring position, scored when Eliot Ramos, the follow-up hitter, made a timely hit to the left. The ball fell slightly over the shortstop and in front of the left field, and in the meantime, Lee Jung-hoo homered with a sprint to score the first point.




Lee Jung-hoo, who scored a lucky double and the first run in his first at-bat, struck out at first base with no outs in the top of the third inning when the score was tied 1-1. Lee Jung-hoo, who met Berrios again, watched the strike outside the first pitch. Slightly out of the zone, but the decision is a strike. The second ball was fouled off the body cutter. Three balls are balls.

The motivation was good, but the result was SF Lee Jung-hoo, who turned into the worst leadoff, achieved multi-hit RBI. The juru was a fly in the ointment
At the ball count of 1B2S, a slove (83 miles per hour) that falls while bending toward the body for the fourth pitch came in. Lee Jung-hoo swung the bat vigorously, but he was struck out swinging without being hit by the ball.

Lee Jung-hoo then came to the plate for the third time in the top of the fifth inning with one out and runners on first and second bases. This time, Lee Jung-hoo aimed for Berrios' first pitch. He predicted that he would come into the outside course, his weakness, and pulled it as it was when the changeup came in. But both the timing and the course were not good. Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. caught a ground ball.

Guerrero Jr. caught the ball and threw it to second base to put out the leading runner Kisner. However, Lee Jung-hoo was so fast that he managed to avoid a double play. The Toronto shortstop gave up the throw when he saw Lee Jung-hoo almost reached first base. The chance for the first and second bases with two outs continued, but the inning ended with the strikeout of the follow-up hitter Ramos.

Lee Jung-hoo finally hit his second hit of the day in his fourth at-bat in the top of the sixth inning. San Francisco's batters scored three points after two outs and followed with 5-7 in the top of the sixth inning, with two outs and runners on first and second bases.

Lee Jung-hoo, who came out to bat, faced the changed pitcher Justin Bruhall. Lee Jung-hoo, who watched the first and second consecutive high course strikes, scooped up an outside sweeper on the third pitch and hit a timely hit in front of center field. Second baseman Weisley homered and chased 6-7.

At that time, the first baseman Kizuna also ran to third base. Toronto center fielder Myles Straw threw to third base to stop it. In the meantime, Lee Jung-hoo was quick to run to second base. Toronto third baseman Ernie Clement caught the ball and immediately threw it to second base.

The motivation was good, but the result was SF Lee Jung-hoo, who turned into the worst leadoff, achieved multi-hit RBI. The juru was a fly in the ointment
San Francisco's Lee Jung-hoo (left) is attempting to advance to second base by taking advantage of the third base throw after hitting a timely hit with two outs and runners on first and second bases in the top of the sixth inning. Immediately after the sliding, the second base umpire declared safe. MLB.COM broadcast screen capture
The motivation was good, but the result was SF Lee Jung-hoo, who turned into the worst leadoff, achieved multi-hit RBI. The juru was a fly in the ointment
San Francisco's Lee Jung-hoo (left) is responding to the teammates' cheers by raising his hand to the second base after hitting a timely hit with two outs and runners on the first and second bases in the top of the sixth inning, running to the second base and sliding by taking advantage of the throw to the third base. MLB.COM broadcast screen capture
There was a close game near the base. Lee Jung-hoo made a headfirst sliding, and Toronto second baseman Leo Jimenez tried to tag. The first decision was safe.

However, the Toronto bench asked for a challenge (video reading). The decision was reversed here. As a result of the video reading, Lee Jung-hoo's hand, which slid, touched the base first. However, it didn't stop here. As the sliding momentum continued, Lee Jung-hoo's hand fell off the base, and Jimenez was spotted tagging Lee Jung-hoo. In the end, Lee Jung-hoo's base run ended the inning.

From Lee Jung-hoo's point of view, it was an aggressive base run that was worth trying. The attempt to go one more base to second base while the throw was heading to third base at a time when he was trailing is commendable. This is because the second and third bases are much more likely to score than the first and third bases with two outs.

However, it is quite regrettable that the sliding speed was not controlled and passed the base. They are not good at baserunning or rookies usually make such mistakes. This is not what Lee Jung-hoo will show. As a result, regardless of his intention, Lee Jung-hoo played a role in breaking the team's scoring pace, which was in full swing.

Since then, San Francisco has not scored any more. Rather, he lost 6-8 after allowing Guerrero Jr. a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Lee Jung-hoo came to the batter's box once more after one out in the top of the ninth inning, but he grounded out to the second base. In the end, Lee Jung-hoo recorded two hits, one RBI and one run from five times at bat on the day, slightly raising his batting average for the season to 0.249 (89 hits from 357 times at bat). However, he failed to raise his head in front of his team's fifth consecutive loss.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.