'Son of the wind' Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) led the team to a two-game winning streak with his exceptional batting eye and contact skills.

On the 1st (Korean time), Lee Jung-hoo started as the 3rd center fielder in the first game of the 2025 Major League Baseball interleague series against the Houston Astros, held at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, recording 1 hit, 1 walk, and 2 runs in 4 at-bats.

Lee finished the opening three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds last weekend with a batting average of .300 (3 hits in 10 at-bats), 2 RBIs, 4 runs, an on-base percentage of .417, and a slugging percentage of .400.

His first at-bat was a ground out. In the top of the 1st with a score of 0-0 and 2 outs and no runners on base, he faced Houston starter Ronel Blanco and found himself in a disadvantageous count of 0B-2S. After hitting a foul ball on the 3rd pitch, he hit a curve ball on the 4th pitch but it went off the mark, resulting in a ground out to the pitcher. Blanco was a pitcher who posted 13 wins, 6 losses, and an earned run average of 2.80 across 30 games last year, ranking second in the American League for earned run average.

In the top of the 4th, leading 1-0, Lee appeared as the leadoff hitter and, after swinging and missing on the first pitch, grounded out to the second baseman on Blanco's second pitch, a low changeup.

The third at-bat was different. Leading 2-0, Lee batted first in the top of the 6th and drew a walk after a 7-pitch duel. After establishing a favorable count of 2B-0S, the count shifted to 2B-2S after a strike on the 3rd pitch and fouls on the 4th and 5th pitches, but he calmly selected 2 balls to force Blanco off the mound. This marked his fourth consecutive game reaching base since the start of the season.

With 2 outs and a runner on 1st, Lee moved to 2nd base on Patrick Bailey's walk and scored when Wilmer Flores hit a three-run home run.

In the top of the 7th, leading 5-0, Lee batted with 1 out and a runner on 1st. After a 1B-1S ball count, he attacked Ryan Gusto's high curve but it went directly to center fielder Jake Meyers.

In the top of the 9th, leading 5-2, Lee faced his final at-bat with 2 outs and a runner on 1st. Although he fell into a disadvantageous count of 1B-2S against Rafael Montero, he targeted a low splitter on the 4th pitch and hit a double to right-center. This was his third consecutive game with a hit. Subsequently, he scored on Matt Chapman's 2-RBI single.

Lee's season batting average dropped from .300 to .286.

Thanks to Lee's performance, San Francisco defeated Houston 7-2 on the road, extending their winning streak to two games. They now have a season record of 3 wins and 1 loss.

Starting pitcher Jordan Hicks earned his first victory of the season with an impressive performance of 6 innings, allowing just 1 hit, 2 walks, and striking out 6 with no earned runs, while Flores put on a one-man show with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, including a decisive home run, 4 RBIs, and 1 run.

In contrast, Houston failed to extend their winning streak and dropped to a record of 2 wins and 2 losses. Starter Blanco took the loss, pitching 5 innings, giving up 3 hits, 3 walks, striking out 6, and allowing 3 earned runs.

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