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.
In a statement Tuesday, police said a 23-year-old woman reported being assaulted by Kang inside a hotel. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the Chicago woman met Kang through a dating app. Kang invited the woman to his hotel room on June 17, after the Pirates played the Cubs.
The woman said she blacked out, then drifted in and out of consciousness as he sexually assaulted her. The woman’s name has not been released.
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.
Pirates lefty Jeff Locke lasted just four innings and had his three-start winning streak snapped.
Rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz went 3 for 5. His 12th homer of the season tied the game 1-1 in the third and his single in the fourth capped a four-run rally for the Cardinals.
Jaime Garcia exited after giving up a pair of walks to start the sixth. Both walks came around to score.
The Cardinals have lost three straight and fell to 18-26 at home. They have lost 10 games in a row at home to teams with winning records.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: An MRI on C Chris Stewart’s knee showed wear and tear and could require surgery, but Stewart hopes to rehab and play through it. … RHPs Gerrit Cole (triceps) and Ryan Vogelsong (facial fractures) will throw bullpens Thursday.
Cardinals: C Brayan Pena (knee) was placed on the 15-day DL and C Alberto Rosario was called up from Triple-A Memphis. 3B Jhonny Peralta (thumb) sat Wednesday and is day-to-day.
