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Kang hits key double amid investigation, Bucs beat Cards 7-5

Sports

July 7th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jung Ho Kang drove in two key runs with a seventh-inning double a day after Chicago police said they were investigating an allegation of sexual assault against the Pirates infielder, and Pittsburgh beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-5 on Wednesday night for its sixth straight comeback win.

Pittsburgh has won seven consecutive overall and leapfrogged St. Louis for second place in the NL Central. It got homers from David Freese and Sean Rodriguez, and Kang’s double off Jonathan Broxton (1-1) put the Pirates up 6-5 after they trailed 5-1.

Kang has not been charged, and Major League Baseball said in a statement it would “respond fully as additional facts emerge.” The Pirates have won three straight series at Busch Stadium after dropping their previous seven in St. Louis. Pirates relievers combined for five scoreless innings. A.J. Schugel (2-2) got the win and Mark Melancon picked up his 26th save.

Cardinals All-Star infielder Matt Carpenter left in the third inning with a right oblique injury after swinging awkwardly.