Jung Ho Kang hit home runs in his first two Grapefruit League at-bats in the Pirates 10-6 win at home against the Miami Marlins on Sunday. Here’s a quick look at what you need to know in three key areas from the day’s results:
On the mound
Nick Kingham pitched two scoreless innings. Kingham gave up two hits and a walk. The 27-year-old right-hander also had one strikeout.
“It felt good. Good to face a different-color team. We faced our guys a couple times. You never really get any good feedback because you’re a little timid. You don’t want to hurt your own guys going in on your own teammates. I’ve been facing catchers, too, so those are my guys — I really don’t want to hurt them. It’s good to get out and have some fans in the stands and your own team behind you facing a different-color uni.”
At the plate
Ke’Bryan Hayes was 2 for 3 with two home runs, including the walk-off grand slam to give the Pirates the 10-6 win. “It was awesome,” he said about his walk-off homer. “It’s like whenever you’re a little kid in the backyard and you’re trying to make that tough situation. It was great to do that in a real game.”
In the field
Along with his 2-for-2, two-homer day, Kang fielded all of his chances efficiently.
Up next
Game: Pirates vs Boston Red Sox, 1:05 p.m. Monday.
Where: LECOM Park. Bradenton, Fla.
Radio: KDKA-AM 1020 and the Pirates Radio Network.
First Published: February 24, 2019, 9:57 p.m.
