DUNEDIN, Fla. — Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run shot and Korean rookie Jung Ho Kang connected for his first major league homer, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-7 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday in the exhibition opener for both teams.

Alvarez’s drive came in the first inning off Aaron Sanchez after Gregory Polanco singled and Starling Marte reached on an error by new Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson.

Sanchez, a candidate for the starting rotation, yielded four hits, five runs — two earned — and walked one in 1 1-3 innings.

Alvarez added an RBI double in the fifth. The 2013 All-Star missed most of September last season with a stress fracture in his left foot and was left off Pittsburgh’s postseason roster. He batted .231 with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs in 122 games.

“It was good to see,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s our first exhibition game, so we need to keep a dose of reality on everything we do.”

The Pirates bid $5 million for the rights to Kang, then signed him to a four-year, $11 million contract in January.

“I tried not to be nervous, but I enjoyed the game and enjoyed the little moment,” Kang said through a translator.

Right-hander Casey Sadler tossed two no-hit innings.