South Korean Major Leaguer Lee Jung-hoo, 27, shined across offense, defense, and base running by hitting multiple home runs on the day the San Francisco Giants traded away many of their regular players.

Playing as the starting number two hitter and right fielder in an away game against the Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball (MLB) at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on August 4 (KST), Lee recorded 3 hits in 4 at-bats, including two solo home runs, 1 stolen base, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.

Lee swung a hot bat to record his 10th multi-hit game with three or more hits this season, raising his season batting average to .306.

In his first plate appearance at the top of the 1st inning, Lee struck out looking against a low 151 km/h fastball from Texas starting pitcher Cal Quantrill.

Lee immediately requested an Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) challenge, but the ruling was not overturned.

Lee's bat exploded starting from his second plate appearance.

Stepping up to the plate with one out in the top of the 3rd inning with San Francisco leading 2-0, Lee sharply turned on a 133.5 km/h splitter from Quantrill that drifted over the middle of the plate.

The solidly hit ball left the bat at an exit velocity of 161.9 km/h, traveled a distance of 125 meters, and cleared the right-center field fence.

This was Lee's 7th home run of the season, coming 9 days after his game against the Los Angeles Angels on July 26.

With two outs in the top of the 5th inning, Lee singled sharply to left field and immediately stole second base for his 8th stolen base of the season.

Although he advanced to third base due to a throwing error by the catcher during the steal, he failed to score.

Lee blasted another powerful extra-base hit in his fourth plate appearance.

Leading off the top of the 8th inning, Lee drove a low 139 km/h slider from Texas relief pitcher Peyton Gray over the right-center field fence on a line drive.

This marks the second time in his Major League career that Lee has hit two home runs in a single game, following his performance against the New York Yankees on April 14 of last year.

With his 8th home run of the season, Lee tied his personal single-season high for home runs set last year.

Lee stepped up to the plate again with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning, adding an RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Accounting for half of San Francisco's total 6 hits with his 3-hit performance, Lee also made several stellar defensive plays in right field to lead his team to a 5-1 victory.

San Francisco effectively waved the white flag on the season by trading away Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Robbie Ray and batting title leader Luis Arraez on this trade deadline day, but snapped a three-game losing streak fueled by Lee's one-man show.

Texas, second in the American League West, kept its core players in hopes of reaching the postseason, but fell into a six-game losing streak.

Meanwhile, Song Sung-moon, 29, of the San Diego Padres recorded 1 hit in 3 at-bats in an away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Playing as the number nine hitter and third baseman, Song hit into a double play on a second-baseman grounder with a runner on first and no outs in the top of the 3rd inning, and was grounded out to first base in the top of the 6th.

In his third plate appearance in the top of the 8th inning, he led off and singled to center field.

It was Song's first hit in 15 days, since going 3-for-3 against the Kansas City Royals on July 20.

His season batting average became .208.

San Diego, third in the National League West, lost 1-5 to division rival Arizona.
 

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)