San Francisco Giants starting outfielder Lee Jung-hoo extended his hitting streak to four consecutive games in Major League Baseball spring training.
Lee started as the No. 3 hitter in right field in an away game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 26. He went 2-for-3 with one RBI, raising his spring training batting average from .333 to .417 (5-for-12).
In the top of the first inning with two outs, Lee battled Milwaukee right-handed starter Carlos Rodriguez to a full count before grounding out to second base on a low outside changeup.
His first hit came in the third inning with the Giants leading 3-1. Following Bryce Eldridge's two-run homer, Lee stepped up with two outs and no runners on base. He capitalized on right-hander Peter Strzelecki's shaky command, driving a sinker down the middle into right field for a single on a 1-0 count.
Lee's bat stayed hot in the fourth inning. With the Giants ahead 7-1 and a runner on first with two outs, he crushed an RBI triple deep down the right field line off left-handed reliever Jesus Broca. He connected on a low inside slider on a 1-1 count. Lee was then replaced by a pinch runner to end his day.
Lee will travel to Osaka, Japan, on March 27 to join the World Baseball Classic national team. Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong, who departs for Japan on March 28, also had a standout performance.
Kim started as the leadoff hitter in center field in an away game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. He went 2-for-3 with one RBI, one run scored, and two stolen bases, pushing his spring training average to .500 (5-for-10).
In the top of the first inning, Kim singled to right field off Diamondbacks right-handed starter Zac Gallen, who won 13 games last season. He pulled an inside changeup on a 2-1 count.
Kim immediately stole second base and advanced to third on Dalton Rushing's groundout to first, displaying aggressive baserunning. Though he struck out swinging against right-handed reliever Drey Jameson with two outs and a runner on third while trailing 2-3 in the second inning, he recorded his second hit in the fifth.
With runners on first and second and no outs, Kim lined an RBI single to center field off right-hander Dylan Ray on a low outside changeup with a 1-1 count. He stole second base again and later scored. Kim was replaced on defense in the bottom of the fifth with the Dodgers leading 6-3.