Kang suffers ‘serious injury’ in Pirates’ loss

Associated Press

Pittsburgh

It appears the Pittsburgh Pirates will have to make their final push for the playoffs without impressive rookie Jung Ho Kang.

The shortstop injured his left knee in the first inning Thursday when Chris Coghlan slid into him while unsuccessfully attempting to break up a double play during the Chicago Cubs’ 9-6 victory.

Kang rolled on the ground in pain as he grabbed at his knee. He was helped off the field and taken to a hospital, where the team said that he underwent surgery to repair a fractured tibia and a torn meniscus. The 28-year-old Korean is expected to be out six to eight months.

Kang called it “a serious injury” in a statement released through agent Alan Nero, but did not blame Coghlan. “Coghlan was playing the game the way it should be played,” Kang said. “I’m confident he meant me no harm. I appreciate everyone’s support.”

The 28-year-old Kang is hitting .287 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 126 games for Pittsburgh. He is the first position player to directly make the jump from the Korean Baseball Organization to the majors.

“I hate that that happened,” Coghlan said. “I’d never try to hurt somebody. I sent him over a letter and told him I hoped he would be OK.”

Kang’s left leg was planted as he threw to first, and his knee bent at an unnatural angle as Coghlan slid.

Players in both clubhouses thought it was nothing more than a baseball play.

“It’s not like [Coghlan] went way out one way or the other,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s a hard slide. I’ve got to look at the play before I can comment any further on it.”

Anthony Rizzo started a six-run fifth inning with his 30th homer, and the Cubs took three of four in the series to move within two games of the Pirates for the top NL wild card.

“The last thing you want is for somebody from your side to get hurt,” Pirates second baseman Neil Walker said. “We got beat in several aspects of the game all week. They outplayed us, then the icing on the cake is they knocked out one of our best players.”

Chicago turned a 4-3 deficit into a 9-4 lead with a fifth-inning outburst that included a two-run double by reliever Clayton Richard (4-2) and RBI singles by Addison Russell and Tommy La Stella.

Cubs rookie Kris Bryant had his second straight three-hit game. La Stella and Russell drove in two runs each and were two of four Chicago players with two hits, along with Rizzo and Dexter Fowler.