Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) recorded a multi-hit game in the “Heroes Derby” against Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers) on Thursday (KST), leading his team to a 6-2 victory at Dodger Stadium.
Batting leadoff and playing right field, Lee went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a strikeout, raising his season average to .272 (43-for-158). After struggling early against Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto—flying out in the first, grounding out in the third, and striking out in the fifth—he broke through in the seventh inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Lee drilled a 152.8 km/h four-seam fastball from reliever Blake Treinen into right-center field for a two-run single, clearing the bases. In his final at-bat in the ninth, he beat out an infield single to shortstop for his second hit.
On the other side, Kim Hye-seong, starting at second base and batting ninth for the Dodgers, went 0-for-4 with a strikeout, extending his hitless streak to 12 consecutive at-bats since April 9. His season average dropped to .268 (22-for-81). Kim struck out in the second, grounded out to shortstop in the fifth, and hit a hard line drive in the seventh that was caught by right fielder Lee Jung-hoo on a nice running grab. He grounded out to the pitcher in the ninth.
The Giants improved to 18-24 (.429) with their third straight win, remaining fourth in the NL West. The Dodgers fell to 24-18 (.571) with their fourth consecutive loss, staying second in the division.
In Atlanta, Kim Ha-seong made his long-awaited return to the big leagues after 226 days, starting at shortstop and batting eighth for the Braves against the Chicago Cubs at Truist Park. Kim, who signed a one-year, $20 million deal with Atlanta last December, had been sidelined after rupturing a tendon in his right middle finger when slipping on ice in South Korea earlier this year. He rehabbed in the minors, playing nine games since April 29.
Kim went 0-for-3 with a walk, grounding out to second in the third, flying out to third in the fifth, drawing a walk in the sixth, and grounding out to second in the eighth. He showed solid defense, especially in the fourth inning with the game tied 1-1 and the bases loaded. He fielded a fast grounder from Cubs’ Moises Ballesteros and threw to second for the out, limiting damage to just one run.
The Braves won 5-2, extending their winning streak to three games, improving to 29-13 (.690) and holding first place in the NL East.
Meanwhile, Song Sung-moon of the San Diego Padres remained on the bench in their 6-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.