For the primary time in his six-year profession, the All-Star outfielder belted three dwelling runs in a 6-4 victory on Friday evening in opposition to the A’s. Tucker blasted a no-doubt solo shot to the right-field bleachers on the Coliseum within the first, hit a formidable two-run blast within the fifth after which snuck out one other solo shot within the seventh.
So, when’s the final time he hit three dingers in a recreation?
“I don’t know, perhaps highschool,” Tucker stated. “Want it may occur extra.”
No pitch was secure Friday evening. The primary homer got here on a fastball, the second on a slider and the third a changeup.
It’s additionally price noting that Tucker’s first two dwelling runs got here in opposition to A’s southpaw JP Sears. Remarkably, the left-handed-hitting Tucker is faring higher in opposition to lefties (.359 batting common) than he’s in opposition to righties (.272) this season.
Requested to elucidate his success in opposition to southpaws, Tucker stated it may need one thing to do with dealing with his left-handed older brother as a child within the yard. Preston Tucker, who’s seven years Kyle’s senior, is at the moment on the 10-day injured record (plantar fasciitis) within the Padres’ group.
“By way of dealing with a lefty or a righty, I don’t actually thoughts it,” Tucker stated. “I feel that’s an enormous a part of simply taking part in Wiffle ball within the yard with my brother being a lefty.”
Heck, you could possibly even say that Tucker was simply 15 toes away from a four-homer evening. Within the third inning, he recorded a loud out to useless heart that traveled 386 toes and left his bat at 101 mph. Tucker stated he’s merely making an attempt to barrel up pitches.
The 26-year-old slugger has been scorching the ball in July, as he now totes a .400/.479/.800 slash line with six dwelling runs and 19 RBIs this month.
“You possibly can’t get rather more locked in than that,” supervisor Dusty Baker stated of Tucker. “You don’t fear about it. If you get locked in, you simply swing.”
All six runs for the Astros got here through the lengthy ball Friday evening. Alex Bregman additionally notched a two-run shot off Sears within the third inning, because the ball bounced off the highest of the tall wall in left-center subject earlier than disappearing behind the fence.
“I didn’t really feel something tonight,” Valdez stated via interpreter Jenloy Herrera. “That was one thing I used to be occupied with simply making an attempt to ensure I didn’t pull it once more. However the greatest factor was that my pitches weren’t doing what I needed them to do right now.”
Valdez completed 5 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on six hits and two walks whereas placing out 4.
Phil Maton, Rafael Montero and Hector Neris every tossed scoreless innings – Neris received an enormous inning-ending double play after strolling his first two batters – earlier than nearer Ryan Pressly got here in for the ninth. It marked the primary time Pressly pitched in three straight days since Sept. 17-19, 2021, however the right-hander instructed Baker that he felt good to go earlier than the sport.
Pressly nailed down the save, the a hundredth of his profession and 99th in an Astros uniform. The 34-year-old not often completed video games all through his first seven seasons with the Twins and Astros, however he has developed right into a strong nearer since 2020.
“Everytime you get one thing like that, it’s fairly particular for anyone to get 100 of something,” Pressly stated. “I by no means thought I’d get right here, to be sincere with you.”
The large evening from Tucker and Co. got here on the identical night when the Rangers misplaced 11-5 in Arlington, pulling the Astros inside three video games again of the American League West lead. Contemplating stars like Alvarez (proper indirect pressure) and Jose Altuve (left indirect pressure) may return within the coming days or perhaps weeks, together with starter José Urquidy (proper shoulder irritation), the Astros are trending up with the Aug. 1 Commerce Deadline approaching.
“Getting Altuve again, getting Yordan again recent and Urquidy’s making progress — it’s like making three trades proper there,” Baker stated.
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Printed : 2023-07-22 05:54:00
