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Kang Jung-ho hits ‘finishing solo homer’

Posted July. 30, 2015 07:20,   

한국어

Clutch hitter Kang Jung-ho enabled his team Pittsburgh Pirates to garner the first win in a series of six away games.

At an Interleague game against Minnesota held at Target Field in Minnesota, the U.S. on Wednesday, Kang garnered a finishing solo homer off closing pitcher Glen Perkins, with the game tied 7-7 at the top of the ninth inning. It was his sixth homer for this season and his first homer in 10 games after the game against Milwaukee on July 18. Kang, who had his 23rd multi-hit for this season by scoring two hits and one earned run from four times at bat, increased his earned runs to 32.

The home team always fields the closing pitcher without fail when the game is tied at the top of the ninth inning in the Major League Baseball. The team does so because it aims to secure win at the bottom of the ninth inning after allowing no run at the top of the ninth inning by deploying the closing pitcher. In reality, the home team often secures a finishing win at the bottom of the ninth inning in the Major League. Manager Paul Molitor of Minnesota, a Major League Hall of Famer, also deployed at the top of the ninth inning left-hander Perkins, who played the closing pitcher for the American League at this year’s All Star game

Perkins, who ousted Aramis Ramirez through a liner to the third baseman, faced off Kang as his second batter. Perkins, who is the leader in saves (29 saves) in the American League, had showdown with Kang for the first time, and pitched a 134-km slider (84 miles) in his bid to secure strikeout with the ball count in his favor at one ball and two strikes. However, Kang had a powerful hit to the central left section of the stand on target field. It was a 132-meter long-distance homer. Sensing victory, his teammates celebrated Kang on the homer by making high five signs at the dugout.

After the game, Kang said through an interpreter, “I always enjoyed such a situation in Korea.” Pittsburgh Manager Clint Huddle, who garnered an exciting upset win at the first of the six consecutive away games, commended Kang by saying, “Kang has continued to make strides game after game. He met the best pitcher and had the best swing.” Kang’s debut homer at the Major League was an equalizer that he garnered off Trevor Rosenthal, the ace closing pitcher of St. Louis.

Kang, who experienced a slump and only posted a batting average of 0.221 in June, had the opportunity to play the entire game due to third baseman Josh Harrison’s injury, recovered his performance to post a batting average of 0.355 by having 27 hits from 76 times at bat in July. In the recent nine games, he has seen his performance improve, as he has posted a batting average of 0.441, or 15 hits from 34 times at bat. His batting average for this season is now 0.289. Kang, who was deployed as fifth batter and shortstop on the day, displayed two double plays that ended innings, thus demonstrating perfect play in both offense and defense.



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