ethernetacademy.netBae Ji-hwan (Pittsburgh Pirates)’s quick feet shined.
Bae went 1-for-4 with a double, a home run, an RBI, and two strikeouts in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ nine-hole start against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, on April 30.
Pittsburgh’s lineup was: Keybrian Hayes (third base), Brian Reynolds (left field), Andrew McCutchen (designated hitter), Conor Jo (first base), Andy Rodriguez (catcher), Joesua Palacios (right field), Leover Peguero (shortstop), Jack Swinski (center field), and Bae Ji-Hwan (second base). The starting pitcher was Colin Selby.
Cole Reagans started for Kansas City and the lineup was Maikel Garcia (third base), Bobby Witt Jr. (shortstop), Salvador Perez (first base), MJ Melendez (designated hitter), Nelson Velasquez (right field), Drew Waters (center field), Freddy Fermin (catcher), Michael Massey (second base), and Dillon Blanco (left field).
Bae stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded in the top of the third inning. After swinging at Reagans’ first and second pitches, he saw a 97.5 mph (156 km/h) four-seam fastball on the third pitch. But it was in the strike zone. He struck out.
The 0-0 balance was broken in the fourth inning. Kansas City put runners on first and third with back-to-back singles by Witt and Perez. After Melendez struck out, Velasquez walked to load the bases. Waters hit a line drive to first baseman Cho. The fastball hit Cho’s glove and rolled backward. But Bae calmly caught the ball and threw to first base for the final out. In the meantime, Witt scored.
Bae led off the sixth inning with a double. He hit a 97.4 mph (156 km/h) four-seam fastball from Reagans on a 1B2S. The ball was heavily bound and headed toward Massey at second base. Massey caught the ball and threw to first, but Bae was quick on his feet. However, Hayes struck out. Reynolds followed with a single to center, but the runners were stranded.
Bae stepped to the plate for the third time in the eighth inning. Peguero singled against reliever Austin Cox. Swinsky retired him on a fly ball to left field, then Bae swung and missed on an 87-mph (about 140 km/h) cutter that dropped low at 0B2S. But Pittsburgh’s comeback home run came. Hays hit a two-run homer off reliever Carlos Hernandez.
In the top of the ninth, Pittsburgh drove in a run. With one out, Rodriguez doubled and Palacios walked. Peguero then hit a 91 mph (146 km/h) slider from Stephen Cruz for a three-run homer. Swinski followed with an RBI triple.
With runners on first and third, Bae stepped up to the plate for the final time. Bae hit a 98.8 mph (159 km/h) fastball to shortstop Witt. But Witt made an error. He opted for a throw to first base. But Bae was quick on his feet.
Hayes then singled, advancing Bae into scoring position. After Reynolds struck out, McCutchen walked to load the bases. But with two outs, Cho struck out to end the inning.
Kansas City had runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth when Melendez singled and Velasquez doubled. Waters struck out, but Fermin followed with an RBI single, but Massey was thrown out at first base to end the game with a 6-3 Pittsburgh victory.
Bae hit safely in three straight games, keeping his batting average at .240. His OPS dropped to .625. Pittsburgh won its second straight game. Peguero led the way with three hits (one home run), three RBIs and two runs scored, while Hays also had two hits. Luis L. Ortiz, who took over on the mound in the third inning, pitched five innings, allowing one run (one earned) on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.먹튀검증
Kansas City starter Reagans pitched seven innings of scoreless baseball with three hits, one walk and zero strikeouts, but the bullpen collapsed and he was unable to secure the win.