DHP_5347 REVOLVING DOOR AT THIRD BASE
Photo: David Hague
Do the Pirates have another revolving door at third base? After a 2-4 night in the Pirates 7-5 win over the Cardinals Saturday night, Jung Ho Kang upped his average to .318 and has a batting line of 318/.367/.455 on the season and is 8 for his last 22.
Clint Hurdle talked after Friday night’s loss of needing to get his guys going, in discussing why Josh Harrison played over Kang Friday night but Hurdle went back to Kang on Saturday night who had two hits and was part of a unique 4-5-4 Triple Play.
Kang’s success of late has been a very small sampling, he’s only had 44 at-bats but with the Pirates in need of a spark and eight games out of first place, they’ve reached the point where they need to let Kang play for the short-term and see where it goes.
Kang will make back-to-back starts at third today, while Harrison gets back into the lineup in starting at second base in place of Neil Walker with the Pirates facing lefty Tyler Lyons.
On the heels of a new four year, $27 million extension, Harrison has been a player pressing too much and it’s affecting him at the plate and even in the field. In the long-run the Pirates have to stay patient with Harrison and need him to turn things around but as long as Kang keeps producing, the Pirates are going to have to get Harrison at-bats more in a utility role that he had great success at early last season before over taking Pedro Alvarez for the starting third base job.
Harrison has just 2 hits over his last 37 and walked Friday night for the first time in 90 at-bats. Of note today, Harrison has had great success in his career vs Tyler Lyons as he’s 5-8 with a double, triple.
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