PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates will have to make their final push for the playoffs without impressive rookie Jung Ho Kang.

The shortstop is out six to eight months after breaking his left leg and tearing a knee ligament 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 for an MRI that revealed the extent of the damage. Kang underwent surgery Thursday night while the rest of the Pirates flew to Los Angeles to begin a weekend series against the Dodgers.

In a statement released through agent Alan Nero, Kang said Coghlan was not to blame.

“It is unfortunate that what would be considered heads up baseball would cause such a serious injury,” Kang said. “That said, Coghlan was playing the game the way it should be played. I’m confident he meant me no harm. I appreciate everyone’s support.”

The 28-year-old Kang batted .287 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 126 games for Pittsburgh this season. He became 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. Pittsburgh began the day four games behind first-place St. Louis in the NL Central. The Cardinals were set to play a night game at Milwaukee.

“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.

Richard allowed two runs in 3 1-3 innings in relief of starter Kyle Hendricks, who gave up four runs on three homers in three innings. Travis Wood struck out five in two perfect innings for his second save.

Richard began the season with the Pirates’ Triple-A Indianapolis farm club before the Cubs purchased his contract July 3.

“It was a little weird facing those guys, but you can’t really think about that when you’re on the mound,” Richard said. “I’m just happy the Cubs gave me an opportunity.”

Charlie Morton (9-8) lost for the fourth time in five starts as he was rocked for six runs in four-plus innings.