Taiwan’s Cheng Tsung-che on Wednesday made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates, just two days after being called up from Triple-A.
In a home game at PNC Park against the St Louis Cardinals, Cheng wore a Taiwanese flag on his belt as he started at shortstop and batted ninth.
“The journey has officially begun,” the Pirates wrote in Chinese on X, welcoming the 23-year-old.
Photo: AP
Cheng’s wife was among the scattered spectators at the noon game, in which the Pirates edged the Cardinals 2-1 in the 13th inning on a walk-off hit by Joey Bart.
Cheng went hitless in his two at-bats against Cardinals starting pitcher Erick Fedde before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the bottom of the eighth.
In the third inning, with teammate Tommy Pham on first base, Cheng flew out to left field on a sinker.
Photo: AFP
Leading off the sixth, he reached first on a sharply hit grounder toward third baseman Nolan Arenado, but the play was ruled an error by the 10-time Gold Glove winner.
Cheng attempted to steal second base and was initially called safe, but the ruling was overturned following a video review.
The Pirates, now 5-8, are tied with the Cincinnati Reds at the bottom of the National League Central standings.
Photo: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images
Elsewhere on Wednesday, it was:
‧ Athletics 1, Padres 2
‧ Braves 3, Phillies 4
‧ Cubs 2, Rangers 6
‧ Diamondbacks 9, Orioles 0
‧ Giants 8, Reds 6 (10i)
‧ Guardians 3, White Sox 2
‧ Mariners 7, Astros 6
‧ Mets 0, Marlins 5
‧ Nationals 5, Dodgers 6
‧ Rays 5, Angels 4
‧ Red Sox 1, Blue Jays 2 (11i)
‧ Rockies 2, Brewers 17
‧ Royals 0, Twins 4
‧ Tigers 3, Yankees 4
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