View source for User talk:Lee Jung-hoo's brilliant debut, the long-awaited first hit in the ML + a comeback RBI 'big explosion'!

"Grandchild of the Wind" Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) finally made his Major League Baseball debut. It was also done in front of his best friend Kim Ha-sung (29, San Diego Padres).

The San Francisco Giants lost to the San Diego Padres 4-6 in the opening game of 2024 Major League Baseball at Petco Park in San Diego, California, at 5:10 a.m. on the 29th (Korea Standard Time).

Playing as San Francisco's first batter and center fielder, Lee Jung-hoo recorded three hits and one RBI in four times at bat. After striking out at his first batter's box, he was unlucky to be caught in a straight line hit by a well-hit ball. However, he gave up his first hit to Darvish in the top of the fifth inning, and had a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to post his first RBI in his debut. San Diego's fifth batter and shortstop Kim Ha-sung also responded by garnering his first hit of the season.

This will be San Francisco's season opener. San Diego will also play as its home opener. Earlier, the team played the opening game of the 2024 Major League World Tour Seoul Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th and 21st. At the time, the team returned to the U.S. with one win and one loss.

It is also Lee's long-awaited first major league game. He signed a six-year, $113 million (W152.6 billion) contract with San Francisco late last year and posted an outstanding batting average of 0.343 (12 hits in 35 at-bats), one home run, five RBIs, six runs scored, and an OPS of 0.911 in 13 exhibition games. San Francisco manager Bob Melvin even said early on, "I would be shocked if Lee does not come out as the first hitter in the opening game."

It was Kim Ha-sung's third game of the season. In the previous Seoul Series, he recorded seven hits in 10 at-bats, no hits, two walks, an RBI, and one stolen base. Although he did not get a hit in two games, he proved his ability as a pitcher with just one walk.

It is also the first Korean Big Leaguer meeting of the season. Previously, Kim Ha-sung faced off against a Korean three times last year. He played three consecutive games against the Pittsburgh Pirates in late June and late July, respectively. He faced Bae Ji-hwan (25) in the first series and Choi Ji-man (33) in the second. Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Ha-sung are known as close friends while playing together for the Nexen-Kium Heroes from 2017 to 2020.

The game was initially about pitchers, but it was turbulent in the middle and second half. San Francisco scored the first run in the top of the third inning, but San Diego succeeded in making a comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning by scoring two runs against Logan Webb, the runner-up in last year's National League Cy Young Award. San Francisco regained the lead against San Diego's bullpen in the top of the seventh inning, and Lee Jung-hoo contributed. However, San Diego turned the tide by scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh.

For San Diego, Xander Bogaerts (2 for 4) and Luis Campano (2 for 3) recorded multi-hitters, and starter Yu Darvish laid the groundwork for victory with five hits, seven strikeouts and one run in five innings. Japanese pitcher Yuki Matsui recorded his first win since his debut with a perfect inning. San Francisco's ace Logan Webb achieved a quality start with five hits, five strikeouts and two runs in six innings, but suffered a disappointing loss as the bullpen collapsed.

Meanwhile, Lee Jung-hoo's father, Lee Jong-beom, 54, former LG Twins coach, and other family members visited Petco Park to watch the game. Lee Jung-hoo made an emotional debut with his first hit in front of his father.

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