A new legend has begun. Lee Jeong-hoo (25) of the San Francisco Giants finally appeared in the opening game of the Major League Baseball (MLB) and scored his first big league hit. In the opening game of the 2024 MLB season between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, which started at 5:10 am on the 29th at Petco Park in San Diego, California, Lee Jung-hoo appeared on the stage of the Super League, starting as the number one hitter and midfielder. Kim Ha-seong (29) of the San Diego Padres played as the fifth hitter and shortstop.
Lee Jeong-hoo’s first major league hit came in the third at bat in the top of the fifth inning. Lee Jung-hoo, who stood at the plate with no runners on and runners out, pushed a high breaking ball after a full-count battle with opposing starter Darvish, creating a hit in front of center field. However, first baseman Lee Jeong-hoo was caught in Darvish’s check and was unfortunately out.
Lee Jeong-hoo is preparing for live betting at the San Francisco Giants’ spring camp held in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA on the 22nd (Korea time). Scottsdale (Arizona, USA) = Reporter Heo Sang-wook wook@sportschosun.com/2024.02.22
Lee Jung-hoo, who took his first at-bat as the leadoff hitter in the top of the first inning, attacked Darvish’s first pitch, but was unfortunately fouled out, and later recorded a strikeout.
In the bottom of the second inning, San Diego’s Kim Ha-seong took his first at-bat of the season. In the bottom of the second inning, with no runners on and one out, Ha-seong Kim was thrown out with a fly to right field.
In the top of the third inning, Lee Jeong-hoo came out to bat for the second time. With San Francisco leading 1-0, Jeong-Hoo Lee, at bat with a runner on second base and 1 out, hit Darvish’s ball with a full count, but was dismissed by a straight hit from the first baseman. Fortunately, it didn’t lead to a double play.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, Ha-Seong Kim had his first hit of the season. Kim Ha-seong, who stood at the plate with a runner on first and no outs, targeted opposing starter Logan Webb’s third pitch and got his first hit of the season. Ha-seong Kim scored his first run of the season with a home run when Wade, the 8th batter, grounded out in front of the first baseman with the bases loaded and no outs.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Ha-seong Kim took the third at-bat. With 2 outs and a runner on third, Ha-Seong Kim reached first with an automatic 4th pitch in a 1-3 situation. Ha-seong Kim, who had several base hits, stole a base immediately after getting on base, recording his first stolen base of the season. But, unfortunately, no extra runs were scored as the next batter struck out.
In the top of the third inning, San Francisco’s 7th baseman Conforto led off with a double to right field, and then 9th baseman Ahmed brought Conforto home with a timely double to take the lead and tie the game.
San Diego turned the game around in the bottom of the 5th inning. After No. 4 leadoff hitter Machado got on base with a walk, No. 5 hitter Kim Ha-seong and No. 6 Profar hit consecutive hits to tie the score at 1-1. No. 7 Campusano singled again, creating an opportunity to load the bases with no outs, and when Wade, the No. 8 hitter, grounded out in front of the first baseman, third base runner Ha-seong Kim came home and scored. in a 2-1 comeback.
Before the game, Lee Jeong-hoo told reporters, “I slept very well last night. “I’m not really nervous,” he said. “I think it’s more meaningful because I get to play in the same stadium where Kim Ha-seong plays every day.” Lee Jeong-hoo recorded a .343 batting average and 1 home run with 12 hits in 35 at-bats in the exhibition game.
The starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres that Jeong-hoo Lee faced on this day was Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish. Lee Jung-hoo recorded 1 hit in 2 at-bats against Darvish in the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) held at the Tokyo Dome in Japan in March last year, and recorded 1 hit in 3 at-bats in the game the that day. Darvish came off the mound with the team leading 2-1 with 5 hits, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, and 1 earned run in 5 innings on this day, meeting the requirements for winning pitcher.
◇ Ohtani, 2 hits and 1 walk in 2 at-bats in home opener
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani of the LA Dodgers started as the No. 2 designated hitter in the 2024 season opener against the St. Louis Cardinals held at Dodgers Stadium on this day, and recorded 2 hits and 1 walk in 2 at-bats until the bottom of the 5th inning.
Despite going hitless in three exhibition games after the Seoul Series, Ohtani hit a hit in his first at-bat that day. In the bottom of the first inning, with no outs and runners on first base, he hit a nice double to right field. However, Ohtani was caught in bad shape and was out between second and third base. The Dodgers scored the first run when third baseman Freeman hit a timely hit and the runner on third base went home.
In the bottom of the third inning, Ohtani reached base with a walk in his second inning with the Dodgers leading 3-0. After that, third baseman Freeman hit a two-run home run over center field, and Ohtani scored his first run of the season. The Dodgers took a 5-0 lead.
With the Dodgers leading 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Ohtani had another hit. Otani, who came to the plate with no runners on and one out, hit opposing starter Mycolas’ fourth pitch and hit a single to right center. However, he could not score as the subsequent batsmen were out.
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