Lee Jung-hoo Hits Two Doubles, Closing in on Batting Lead with .331 Average

San Francisco Giants outfielder Lee Jung-hoo has narrowed the gap for the league's batting title to just one point (0.001) after adding two more doubles to his season tally.

Starting as the fifth hitter and right fielder in the 2026 MLB regular season away game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on June 21 (KST), Lee recorded two hits in four at-bats and scored two runs.

Following today's game, Lee's season batting average rose to .331 (86 hits in 260 at-bats), with an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .823.

Otto Lopez of the Miami Marlins, who leads the league in batting, went 1-for-5 as the second hitter and shortstop, seeing his batting average dip to .332.

The gap between league runner-up Lee and leader Lopez is now just one point (0.001).

Leading off the top of the second inning, Lee pulled a low, inside sweeper on the fifth pitch from Miami starter Max Meyer, sending the ball deep into right field.

Reaching second base, Lee showcased his red-hot hitting form with a double in three consecutive games.

He then advanced to third on a hit by Casey Schmitt and scored on an RBI single by Drew Gilbert.

After a flyout to center field in the third inning and a groundout in the fifth, Lee's bat came alive again in the top of the eighth.

With one out and no runners on, Lee connected perfectly with a high, inside curveball from left-handed reliever Cade Gibson, driving the ball deep into right field for another double.

Lee later scored on a double by Casey Schmitt with two outs, helping the team narrow the deficit to 3-6.

Despite Lee's performance, the San Francisco Giants committed four errors and fell to a 3-6 loss.

Meanwhile, Kim Ha-seong of the Atlanta Braves entered the game as a defensive replacement for the first time in three days but did not get an at-bat.

Kim, who is struggling with a .085 batting average (5 hits in 59 at-bats), entered as a defensive replacement at shortstop in the top of the ninth inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, with his team trailing 2-3.

No balls were hit toward the shortstop position during the ninth inning, and Atlanta secured a 4-3 comeback victory following a walk-off home run by Ozzie Albies with one out and a runner on first in the bottom of the ninth.

Song Sung-mun of the San Diego Padres did not play in the team's 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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