Kang Jung-ho serves as cleanup hitter even against right-handed pitcher

Kang Jung-ho serves as cleanup hitter even against right-handed pitcher. June. 20, 2015 08:05. moonsy1028@gmail.com.

Even the opponent team’s pitcher is right-handed, Kang Jung-ho served as the cleanup hitter as well. At a match against Chicago on Thursday, Kang played as the cleanup hitter for a fifth game, garnered multi hits and run, and led his team to victory.

Chicago started right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija on the day, but Pittsburgh Manager Clint Hurdle did not change Kang’s batting order. Kang already had proven to be competent a cleanup hitter and Neil Walker who mostly played as cleanup hitter suffered from ulcer.

Kang had two hits (infield hits) in five times at bat, and garnered one earned run and one run, living up to Coach Huddle’s expectation. Kang, who had an infield hit at the top of the eighth inning with score tying 2-2, ran to the third base when the next batter, Pedro Alvarez, had a half-missed hit to the right-center gap. Then, he made it to the home when Gregory Polanco hit a grounder, and scored the finishing run.

Pittsburgh, which won the game 3-2, secured eight consecutive wins, the most for the season, to post 39 wins and 27 losses overall. It also narrowed the gap vis-à-vis top contender St. Louis to four games.