Lee Jung-hoo (27) of the San Francisco Giants took a day off after playing 10 consecutive games.
Lee did not participate in the game against the Boston Red Sox at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on the 22nd.
San Francisco set up the starting lineup with Mike Yastrzemski (right fielder), Rafael Devers (designated hitter), Elliott Ramos (left fielder), Willy Adames (shortstop), Dominic Smith (first baseman), Casey Schmidt (third baseman), Daniel Johnson (center fielder), Tyler Fitzgerald (second baseman), and Andrew Kisner (catcher).
Lee took a day off on that day. This was because he had been in the starting lineup for 10 consecutive games from the game against Colorado on the 11th to the game against Boston on the 21st. Although there was a day off on the 17th, it is not easy to handle a tight major league schedule without breaks. San Francisco's Bob Melvin said, “It seems that Lee is rushing too much at the plate right now. He is trying to do too much. I hope this break helps Lee get back on track.”
Lee, who is in his second season in Major League Baseball, has a batting average of .255 with 6 home runs, 34 RBIs, 44 runs scored, and 6 stolen bases over 74 games, with an OPS of .734. He showcased a hot batting feel until April, but a decline began in May, with a batting average of .172 (10 hits in 58 at-bats), 3 RBIs, and 12 runs scored in 17 games in June. Notably, in the last 7 games, his batting average was just .074 (2 hits in 27 at-bats).
Although Lee did not participate in the game, San Francisco secured a 3-2 victory with home runs from Ramos (his 13th of the season) and Devers (his 16th of the season). Devers, who was acquired from Boston in a trade on the 16th, hit his first home run after the trade that day. In the bottom of the 3rd inning with 2 outs and a runner on first, Devers stepped up to the plate leading 1-0 and hit a 2-run home run off Boston's right-handed starter Brian Bello's second pitch, clocked at 96.1 mph (154.7 km/h), over the left field fence. The exit velocity was recorded at 105.5 mph (169.8 km/h), and the distance was 370 feet (113 m).
San Francisco has recorded 38 wins and 37 losses this season, holding a win percentage of .507, ranking 2nd in the National League West and 2nd in the wild card standings. While maintaining a postseason qualifying performance, the team is struggling with a weak scoring ability. The team ranks 9th in the National League in total runs scored (323), remaining in the lower tier. To ascend to a higher-ranking lineup in the league, it is crucial for Lee, who was hot at the start of the season, to regain his batting form.
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