Bae’s quick feet shine…’From sprinting infield hit to ninth-inning blast,’ PIT pulls off thrilling upset over KC

Bae Ji-hwan (Pittsburgh Pirates)’s quick feet shined.

Bae went 1-for-4 with a double, a home run, an RBI and two strikeouts in the ninth spot in the lineup against the Kansas City Royals in the 2023 Major League Baseball World Series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh’s lineup was: Keybrian Hayes (third base), Brian Reynolds (left field), Andrew McCutchen (designated hitter), Conor Jo (first base), Andy Rodriguez (catcher), Joesua Palacios (right field), Leover Peguero (shortstop), Jack Swinski (center field), and Bae Ji-Hwan (second base). The starting pitcher was Colin Selby.

Cole Reagans started for Kansas City and the lineup was Maikel Garcia (third base), Bobby Witt Jr. (shortstop), Salvador Perez (first base), MJ Melendez (designated hitter), Nelson Velasquez (right field), Drew Waters (center field), Freddy Fermin (catcher), Michael Massey (second base), and Dillon Blanco (left field).

Bae stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded in the top of the third inning. After swinging at Reagans’ first and second pitches, he saw a 97.5 mph (156 km/h) four-seam fastball on the third pitch. But it was in the strike zone. He struck out.

The 0-0 balance was broken in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kansas City put runners on first and third with back-to-back singles by Witt and Perez. After Melendez struck out, Velasquez walked to load the bases. Waters then hit a line drive to Cho at first base. The fastball hit Cho’s glove and rolled backward. But Bae calmly caught the ball and threw to first base for the final out. In the meantime, Witt scored.

Bae led off the sixth inning with a double. He hit a 97.4 mph (156 km/h) four-seam fastball from Reagans on a 1B2S. The ball was heavily bound and headed toward Massey at second base. Massey caught the ball and threw to first, but Bae was quick on his feet. However, Hayes struck out. Reynolds followed with a single, but the runners were unable to score.

Bae led off the eighth inning with a walk. Peguero singled against reliever Austin Cox. Swinski flied out to left field and Bae swung wildly at an 87-mph (about 140 km/h) cutter that landed low in the 0B2S. But Pittsburgh’s comeback home run came. Hays hit a two-run homer off reliever Carlos Hernandez.

In the top of the ninth, Pittsburgh drove in a run. With one out, Rodriguez doubled and Palacios walked. Peguero then hit a 91 mph (146 km/h) slider from Stephen Cruz for a three-run homer. Swinski followed with an RBI triple.

With runners on first and third, Bae Ji-hwan is up to bat. Bae hits a 98.8 mph (159 km/h) fastball on the ground toward the shortstop, Witt. But Witt made an error. He opted for a throw to first base. But Bae was quick on his feet.

Hayes then singled, advancing Bae into scoring position. After Reynolds struck out, McCutchen walked to load the bases. However, with two outs, Cho struck out to end the inning.

Kansas City had runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth when Melendez singled and Velasquez doubled. Waters struck out, but Fermin followed with an RBI single, but Massey grounded out to first base to end the game with a 6-3 Pittsburgh victory.

Bae has hit safely in three straight games, keeping his batting average at .240. His OPS dropped to .625. Pittsburgh won its second straight. Peguero led the way with three hits (one home run), three RBIs and two runs scored, while Hays also had two hits. Luis L. Ortiz, who took over on the mound in the third inning, pitched five innings, allowing one run (one earned) on three hits with five strikeouts and two walks.

Kansas City starter Reagans pitched seven innings of scoreless baseball with three hits, one walk and zero strikeouts, but the bullpen collapsed and he was unable to secure the win 바카라사이트.