Kang’s homer lifts Bucs past Braves

Associated Press

KISSIMMEE, FLA.

Pirates second baseman Jung-ho Kang hit a two-run drive in the ninth inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in a spring training game on Sunday.

The rookie went 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

“A very, very good day at the plate for him,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He stayed on a breaking ball and lined out hard, singled sharply to center, then got all of that fastball. Nothing can breed confidence like success.”

Atlanta’s Shelby Miller had his best outing of spring training.

Miller, who was acquired in the November trade that sent veteran outfielder Jason Heyward to St. Louis, allowed one run and one hit in six innings. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out four and walked one.

“He was tough as nails,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “It was nice to see that.”

Miller was selected by St. Louis in the first round of the 2009 draft and made his major league debut in 2012. He is 26-18 with a 3.33 ERA in three years in 69 career appearances.

Miller said playing for St. Louis and Atlanta are very similar.

“It’s really all the same,” he said. “Both teams have winning reputations and are trying to win every year.”

Chris Johnson went 2 for 2 for Atlanta, including his second spring homer. The Braves finished with three hits.

Pittsburgh’s Stolmy Pimentel made his first start of the spring and allowed a hit in two innings. He struck out one and walked none.

GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE

Pirates outfielder Austin Meadows likely will begin the season in the minors, but the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 draft felt great after hitting a long triple. His spring batting average is .111, but he said he’s getting the hang of things.

“I’m just trying to take all the chances I can get,” Meadows said. “I am just doing what I can to be comfortable. This camp has been great, but I know I am probably going to [Single-A] Bradenton. I feel 100 percent now and I am ready to go.”

BALKING ABOUT BALKS

Atlanta right-hander Jason Grilli was called for two balks in the seventh inning, and one eventually led to a run. The veteran reliever was unhappy after the game, but not as unhappy as Braves coach Terry Pendleton, who argued after the end of the inning and was promptly ejected from the game.

“He has a funky delivery,” Gonzalez said. “It’s all how the umpires interpret things. I would love to know how many times [Grilli] has been called for balks in his career.”

As for the Pendleton ejection, Gonzalez simply said: “It’s just one other person’s opinion on the balk rule.”