Bae Ji-hwan, 24, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, was unable to capitalize on his multi-hit performance in the team’s shock loss.
Bae went 1-for-3 with a walk, a hit, a stolen base and a run scored while starting in the No. 8 spot in the lineup in the third game of the Pittsburgh 메이저놀이터 Pirates’ three-game home series against the Oakland Athletics at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Monday (Aug. 8).
He recorded a hit in his first at-bat. Trailing 7-1 in the third inning, took a three-pitch cutter from Oakland starter Hogan Harris at 1B-1S for an infield single. His third straight hit in his last three games. However, he was unable to score on the ensuing at-bat. Jason Delay struck out, Andrew McCutchen flied out to right field, and Brian Reynolds grounded out to the second baseman, failing to even advance to second base.
Trailing 7-3 in the fourth inning, he was stranded on second base with two outs. On a favorable 2B-1S count, he took a four-pitch 92.8 mph (149 km/h) fastball from Harris and grounded out to shortstop.
His third at-bat was also a hit. Down 3-9, he led off the seventh inning with a single straight to shortstop. On a 1B-1S changeup, he swung at a 94.9-mph (152-kilometer) four-seam fastball from reliever Ken Waldichuck, but it sailed straight into the outfield.
It was Bae’s second out in his last at-bat. Still trailing 4-9 in the top of the ninth, he calmly drew a walk against Waldichuck. After stealing second on a wild pitch and third on an infield single by McCutchin, Bae scored the go-ahead run on Reynolds’ single to right.
With the hit and walk, Bae’s season batting average improved slightly to 2.706 from 2.705.
Despite Bae’s performance, Pittsburgh dropped a 5-9 decision to Oakland to end a three-game homestand with a loss. They are now 32-29 on the season. Starter Roanjee Contreras’ ⅓-inning, six-hit, seven-run outing with two walks and one strikeout was the highlight. Brian Hayes’ three hits and Rodolfo Castro’s 2-for-3 performance were the only bright spots in the loss.
Oakland, meanwhile, improved to 14-50 on the season with its second straight win. Rookie Harris earned his first career win, allowing three runs on four hits (one homer) in five innings with three walks and two strikeouts.
