Lee's first homer in a month, Devers' 22nd jump start win for Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – There’s value in a well-timed ambush. Just ask the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee.

Mired in a monthlong slump that saw his average dip from .331 on June 23 to .299 entering play Saturday, the right fielder has gone through a rough stretch after a torrid start to his 2026 campaign.

But with Angels starter Ryan Johnson running into trouble in the third inning, eliciting a mound visit after four singles in six batters, Lee forced the issue with a first-pitch home run toward Levi’s Landing in right field. Just like that, the Giants had blitzed the Angels for five two-out runs to spark a 9-2 win and a series victory.

It was Lee’s first home run in exactly 99 plate appearances, dating back to June 23 – the date he was hitting a robust .331. Between those two homers, Lee hit just .207/.232/.283.

His sixth home run of the season capped a five-run third, and Rafael Devers added a three-run shot of his own an inning later to all but put the game on ice. Lee added a double in the fifth for good measure before being replaced in the eighth inning once the game was in hand.

His well-rounded day went beyond just his offensive exploits, as Lee also robbed Denzer Guzman of extra bases with a leaping catch in the fourth and cut down Nolan Schanuel at third base with an outfield assist in the sixth.

“He put on a show for the fans today, really all facets of the game,” said manager Tony Vitello of Lee’s afternoon.

“Very happy for him,” said Devers, through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “We know the type of player that he is. Obviously, everything is working out for him. He's showing power. He's showing great defense. So, happy to have him with us.”

Left-hander Robbie Ray also raved about Lee’s defensive contributions, echoing Vitello’s praise regarding Lee’s play in Oracle Park’s challenging outfield dimensions. “He’s been great in right field all year,” said Ray. “It's no surprise; he's worked really hard on that position. He's out there all the time taking balls off the wall. How many times this year has he stopped a guy from going to second because he played it right off the wall? So he definitely cares, and he's definitely put in the work. Those two plays were huge.”

This robust offense was more than enough for Ray, who sailed through six scoreless innings, scattering six hits with two walks and five strikeouts on a season-low 80 pitches.

Ray, who alongside infielder Luis Arraez is the subject of some rumor mill discussions ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline and a free agent after the season, lowered his ERA to 3.16 with his ninth start of at least six innings. There’s a chance Saturday was his final start in San Francisco, should he end up in a trade ahead of the Deadline.

He isn’t paying attention to the rumors, though.

“Whatever happens, it's going to happen,” Ray said. “I've been through it before, so it's not going to be a surprise. But right now, I'm just taking things day by day.”

For Devers, Saturday’s homer was his team-leading 22nd of the season and his second in as many games against the Angels.

Devers noted that he’s been making a concerted effort to cut back on strikeouts. This effort has been put in place without mechanical changes.

“I was aware that I was striking out a lot, so the adjustment is trying to cut down on the strikeouts, try to make shorter swings and try to make contact,” said Devers.

It seems to be working: After striking out 40 times in March/April, 33 times in May and 32 times in June, Devers has collected strike three just 17 times in 19 July games.

The 2026 Giants set out expecting to put together more games like Saturday’s than they have. But at 44-60 in a tough National League, these types of games have become outliers more than regular occurrences.

With the calendar getting late and the Deadline fast approaching, the circumstances aren’t lost on anyone.

“We're aware that our record is not very positive as far as adjustments that maybe the front office is going to make,” said Devers. “It's something that I don't think about … it’s something that they're going to have to [think about], but we're just concentrating on what we can control.”