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Pirates third baseman Colin Moran hits an RBI single against the Diamondbacks in the fifth inning Monday, April 22, 2019, at PNC Park.
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Pirates will continue to mix and match at third base

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Pirates will continue to mix and match at third base

The fact that Colin Moran started at third base in five of the past six games does not indicate a change at the position, manager Clint Hurdle said.

“We’re trying to continue to work, but neither one is going to be banished,” Hurdle said. “We’re going to just keep matching them up and try to keep them in play.”

Jung Ho Kang won the job in spring training but is hitting .146 with a .543 OPS and 30 strikeouts in 82 at-bats. Moran hit .300 with a .400 on-base percentage through 15 games, but went 7-for-37 (.189) with a .441 OPS in his next 14. 

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“Colin continues to stay engaged and do the things you want to see,” Hurdle said. “The game results haven’t been working to the degree that we want for either one of them, nor they want. So we’re going to keep working with them, keep giving them opportunities and see where it takes us.”

Pirates pinch hitter Melky Cabrera hits an RBI double against the Rangers in the fourth inning Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at PNC Park.
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Hurdle saw something from Kang when he turned an inning-ending double play Sunday on a ball that ricocheted off pitcher Tyler Lyons in the 13th inning. Kang stepped on third base and threw to first, keeping the deficit at two and allowing Starling Marte to hit a walk-off homer.

“If he’s not paying attention, not involved in the game, he doesn’t field that ball, he doesn’t turn a double play, we don’t get out of that inning, I don’t know if we win that game,” Hurdle said. “So that shows me there’s separation of bat and ball, and he’s still engaged, and there’s always hope when somebody’s still engaged.”

The Pirates will look at head-to-head matchups, pitch usage and swing paths when deciding who to start.

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Chisenhall feeling better

Lonnie Chisenhall said his left calf, which tightened on him during a rehab assignment, is feeling better. He was scheduled to run in a straight line and take batting practice Tuesday, with some side-to-side work possible Wednesday.

Chisenhall has not played this year because of a broken finger, which he said was good to go, and the calf.

Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.

First Published: May 7, 2019, 11:16 p.m.

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