The Pittsburgh Pirates played its annual Black-Gold scrimmage with Team Black defeating Team Gold 2-1 Monday at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, FL.
This game was the first time fans got the opportunity to see Jung-ho Kang. Kang played in three innings registering a first inning ground out to short in his lone at-bat.
“That’s when I realized, ‘Game on.’ It helped a lot to get to play [before facing other teams], to get a feel for it,” Kang said to the assembled media.
Fans cheered loudest for Kang when he was introduced. Normally, many of the team’s bigger names do not play, however manager Clint Hurdle stated that was not the case on this occasion.
“He wanted to play,” said Hurdle, “and I wanted to make sure and get him out there and get him involved, sooner [rather] than later.”
The six-inning contest was played in front of 3,012 people with Adrian Simpson picking up the win, Blake Wood the loss and Wilfredo Boscan earning the save. Triple-A Manager Dean Trainor managed Team Black and Double-A Manager Tom Prince Team Gold.
Gregory Polanco played right field for Team Black and went 2-3 which included a double.
All three runs were scored in the fourth inning with Andrew Lambo hitting an RBI single and Jose Tabata hitting a sacrifice fly that brought home the game-winning run.
In addition to Simpson, Wood and Boscan: Deolis Guerra, Jeremy Bleich, Angel Sanchez, Nick Kingham, Collin Balester and Charlie Leesman all pitched an inning. Wood gave up two runs on three hits and Sampson a run on two hits, otherwise no one else allowed a run.
The Pirates will have their first Spring Training game tomorrow against the Toronto Blue Jays in Duendin, FL. Casey Sadler is expected to start for the Pirates with Stolmy Pimentel, Bobby LaFromboise, Rob Scahill, Brad Lincoln, Arquimedes Caminero and Josh Wall also scheduled to pitch. The game will be carried on 93.7 FM The Fan in Pittsburgh.
Of note: Clint Hurdle told the media that Corey Hart will be “down a few days” after cutting his foot getting into a whirlpool at Pirate City Sunday. The injury required three stitches. Because of this, Pedro Alvarez will start at first base tomorrow and is expected to do the same Wednesday in a game that also will be against the Blue Jays.
The following is the lineup for tomorrow’s Spring Training game against the Blue Jays:
1. Jaff Decker (L) CF
2. Sean Rodriguez 2B
3. Gregory Polanco (L) RF
4. Starling Marte DH
5. Pedro Alvarez (L) 1B
6. Jung Ho Kang SS
7. Jose Tabata LF
8. Deibinson Romero 3B
9. Tony Sanchez C
