Y! SPORTS
Figures after the Cubs trade him. LOL!
Figures after the Cubs trade him. LOL!
When the New York Yankees reacquired Alfonso Soriano in a trade with the Chicago Cubs back on July 26, they did so hoping the 37-year-old veteran would give them the presence they had been sorely lacking from the right side of the plate.
For a little perspective on just how badly manager Joe Girardi needed that pop in his lineup, the Yankees had not received a home run from a right-handed batter dating all the way back to June 25. That was eventually snapped by Derek Jeter in his second return game on July 28. Later the same afternoon, Soriano would connect for his first home run since his return, but his next 12 games were anything but spectacular as he hit only .159 with two home runs and four RBIs in 44 at-bats.
Historically, Soriano is a streaky hitter who runs extremely hot or extremely cold, rarely staying in between for too long. That can be both maddening and exhilarating as one swing is sometimes all it takes to turn the tide. Luckily for the Yankees, the one swing that turned him around in a positive direction (a two-run homer) came during Tuesday night's 14-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, and since then Soriano's the results has been, well, historical.
That continued in Friday night's 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox when Soriano went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. That raised his four-game totals to 13 hits in 18 at-bats with five home runs and a major league record-tying 18 RBIs (along with Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jim Bottomley, Tony Lazzeri and Sammy Sosa) Yes, that's exactly one RBI per at-bat, which is possible when you've come through with six straights hits with runners in scoring position, including a grand slam and two three-run homers.
For a little perspective on just how badly manager Joe Girardi needed that pop in his lineup, the Yankees had not received a home run from a right-handed batter dating all the way back to June 25. That was eventually snapped by Derek Jeter in his second return game on July 28. Later the same afternoon, Soriano would connect for his first home run since his return, but his next 12 games were anything but spectacular as he hit only .159 with two home runs and four RBIs in 44 at-bats.
Historically, Soriano is a streaky hitter who runs extremely hot or extremely cold, rarely staying in between for too long. That can be both maddening and exhilarating as one swing is sometimes all it takes to turn the tide. Luckily for the Yankees, the one swing that turned him around in a positive direction (a two-run homer) came during Tuesday night's 14-7 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, and since then Soriano's the results has been, well, historical.
That continued in Friday night's 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox when Soriano went 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs. That raised his four-game totals to 13 hits in 18 at-bats with five home runs and a major league record-tying 18 RBIs (along with Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jim Bottomley, Tony Lazzeri and Sammy Sosa) Yes, that's exactly one RBI per at-bat, which is possible when you've come through with six straights hits with runners in scoring position, including a grand slam and two three-run homers.
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