WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Seiya Suzuki went as much as the plate in search of a pitch to hit early within the depend. So, when A’s beginning pitcher Jeffrey Springs threw him a first-pitch fastball over the center of the plate, he jumped throughout it, launching a no-doubter onto the roof of the Sutter Well being Park clubhouse constructing past the left-field fence.
In a sport the Cubs would go on to win 10-2 on Wednesday, that three-run homer prolonged the Cubs’ result in 4-0 within the second inning. It was Suzuki’s second three-run shot in as many days.
Then within the fourth inning, he fouled off two pitches within the zone earlier than hitting an opposite-field blast in a 2-2 depend, notching his first multi-homer sport of the season. Together with a seventh-inning RBI single, Suzuki drove in a career-high 5 runs.
“I might say staying aggressive, watching [Kyle] Tucker’s at-bats, what he does,” Suzuki mentioned of his sizzling streak by means of an interpreter Tuesday. “Certainly one of my traits is once I’m not going effectively, I’m too selective – so simply holding that method of staying aggressive.”
Tucker and Suzuki have made fairly the pairing within the No. 2 and three spots within the batting order up to now – with Tucker batting in entrance of Suzuki towards right-handed beginning pitchers and vice versa towards lefties, together with Springs. As of Wednesday afternoon, Tucker’s 1.228 OPS was No. 9 amongst certified hitters. It took Suzuki a number of video games to get going, however on Wednesday he stretched his streak of multi-hit video games to 4.
“They’ll carry a lineup by themselves,” Cubs beginning pitcher Jameson Taillon mentioned Wednesday. “After which you’ve gotten everybody else doing their job and dealing counts and getting on base. It’s going to be powerful for pitchers.”
Suzuki and Tucker gained’t at all times be surging on the similar time. But when they handle to only keep away from lengthy slumps, they may maintain the Cubs offense afloat throughout inevitable lulls within the season. They have been lacking that form of stabilizing drive final yr.
“I feel [leadoff hitter Ian Happ] and Kyle can be on base a bunch, that’s what they’re each actually good at,” supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned earlier than the sport Wednesday. “I feel Seiya goes to have, and [cleanup hitter] Michael Bush ought to have plenty of RBI alternatives. And also you’ve bought to money in at form of a traditional charge, and I feel we’ll be good.”
All however one Suzuki’s 4 dwelling runs this week have include males on base.
Tucker additionally homered on Tuesday for a profession first: dwelling runs in 4 straight video games.
“Don’t inform him this, however he’s a particular participant,” mentioned nearer Ryan Pressly, who performed with Tucker for seven seasons in Houston earlier than the Cubs traded for them each this offseason. “He actually is particular. And watching him come up and the way he swings it’s actually enjoyable. I’ve had a front-row seat to it for a pair years now. … Each time he comes as much as the plate, one thing fairly cool might occur.”
When Tucker describes his method, it sounds easy.
“I attempt to get pitches I feel I can deal with and simply be aggressive with these,” Tucker mentioned. “I imply, if the pitchers need to throw balls or attempt to get me a chase, I attempt to lay off of them and be a bit affected person with these — and simply attempt to assault those I feel I can crush. So I simply attempt to try this simply as constantly as I can.”
Simpler mentioned than carried out. Counsell has marveled at Tucker’s capacity to remain aggressive whereas additionally continuously drawing walks. And he was delighted to listen to that Suzuki was drawing from his observations of Tucker.
“That’s what different gamers have positively commented on, is watching an awesome hitter’s method and the way it’s just a bit totally different,” Counsell mentioned. “And also you be taught one thing from that, proper? And it’s a confidence he has in himself, after which he executes it, and it’s enjoyable to look at.”
