San Francisco Giants Lee Jung-hoo (27) earned a walk for the first time in 100 plate appearances, along with a double. He made an impact by recording three on-base appearances, including two walks, and preventing runs with a home plate assist in defense.

Lee Jung-hoo participated as a starting center fielder batting third in the home game against the Kansas City Royals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on the 22nd (Korean time), recording 3 at-bats, 1 hit, and 2 walks.

Lee Jung-hoo, who extended his hitting streak to three games, saw his season batting average rise from .275 to .276 (53 hits in 192 at-bats). His OPS also improved from .775 to .786.

The starting pitcher for Kansas City was left-hander Daniel Lynch IV. Since his debut in 2021, he has recorded 16 wins, 23 losses, 2 saves, and 3 holds over 87 games (54 starts) and 316⅓ innings, with an earned run average of 4.67 and 260 strikeouts. In this season, he has pitched 20 games (21 innings), achieving 3 wins, 1 save, and 3 holds with an earned run average of 1.29 and 10 strikeouts.

Facing Lynch IV, who was starting as the first opener of the season, Lee Jung-hoo struck out on three pitches in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning. He watched a sinker down the middle on the first pitch and swung hard enough to lose his helmet on the second pitch, which was a high sinker on the inside. He swung and missed on the third pitch, a changeup that dropped low over the middle, resulting in a strikeout.

However, in his second at-bat in the bottom of the third inning, Lee Jung-hoo hit a right-field double against Kansas City's right-hander Jonathan Bowlan after an intense full-count battle. Although he faced five consecutive outside pitches, Lee did not swing and instead waited for the sixth pitch, a changeup that came in over the middle.

Hitting a line drive traveling at 99.2 miles per hour (159.6 km) to the right of the right fielder, Lee Jung-hoo sprinted with his helmet flying off and slid into second base. This was his 14th double of the season. It was a double that came after two games since facing Kansas City on the 20th, but since no subsequent hits followed, Lee remained stranded.

In a situation with two outs and runners on first and second in the bottom of the fourth inning, Lee finally drew a walk. Despite a cutter coming in deeply on his body at 93.7 miles per hour (150.8 km) on the fifth pitch during a count of 3-1, he narrowly avoided it and recorded a walk. This was his 12th of the season and his first walk in May, breaking a streak of 23 games without a walk since facing the Milwaukee Brewers on the 25th of last month. In terms of plate appearances, it was an incredible 100 plate appearances since the third at-bat in the bottom of the fifth against Milwaukee.

Lee Jung-hoo's walk led to a two-out, bases-loaded opportunity, but the next batter, Wilmer Flores, hit a well-placed line drive to center field that was caught by Kansas City center fielder Kyle Isbel, preventing a score.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lee was out on a fly ball to the right fielder. Against right-hander Taylor Clarke, he faced a full-count battle and hit the sixth pitch, a high four-seam fastball at 95.2 miles per hour (153.2 km), to the right, but it was caught by Kansas City's right fielder Drew Waters.

In his last at-bat in the bottom of the ninth inning, Lee earned a walk against right-hander Lucas Erceg, marking his fourth game of the season with two walks and achieving three on-base appearances.

In defense as a center fielder, Lee recorded his fifth assist of the season. In the top of the ninth, with two outs and runners on first and second, Michael Massey hit a single to center. Although the runner from second base, Salvador Perez, attempted to score by passing third, he was tagged out after being caught by Lee Jung-hoo's throw.

Despite Lee Jung-hoo's contributions in both batting and defense, the game ended with San Francisco losing to Kansas City 4-8.

San Francisco's starting 'ace,' Logan Webb, collapsed after 4 innings, allowing 10 hits (including 1 home run), with no walks and giving up 6 runs (3 earned), resulting in his fourth loss of the season (5 wins). Among other troubles, there was a fielding error committed by first baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. in the top of the fourth.

Kansas City's starting pitcher Lynch IV completed his opener role with 1⅔ innings, allowing 1 hit, issuing 3 walks, striking out 2, and not allowing any runs, while five relief pitchers combined for 7⅓ innings allowing 4 runs. The lineup featured Salvador Perez, who hit his 5th home run of the season, contributing 3 hits in 5 at-bats with 2 RBIs.

San Francisco's record now stands at 29 wins and 21 losses (.580 winning percentage), while Kansas City is at 28 wins and 23 losses (.549 winning percentage).

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