MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits in Week-24
5. George Springer, 48 percent
The Astros have so many weapons, both offensively and defensively, that even when one missteps there is backup. Friday night in Kansas City, the Astros showed their versatility against the Royals.
Jose Altuve’s first-inning home run staked Gerrit Cole to an early lead, and Cole set about protecting it. Into the eighth inning, he limited the Royals to two hits and fanned 10, walking only two batters.
But in the eighth, Cole hiccupped, and that hiccup cost Houston its slim lead. Bubba Starling tapped him for a leadoff base hit, stole second, took third on Martin Maldonado’s throwing error, and scored on Meibrys Viloria’s fly ball.
Suddenly locked in a 1-1 tie, the Royals sent Heath Fillmyer out in the ninth inning. That was when the full display of the Astros’ firepower came into focus. With one out, Kyle Tucker lined a single into right field, then pinch hitter Michael Brantley followed with a base on balls.
With the lead run in scoring position, Astros manager AJ Hinch called on Josh Reddick to pinch-hit. Fillmyer fanned Reddick on a 2-2 pitch, but that merely threw the issue to Springer. He was hitless in four at-bats, but in Springer’s world that only meant he was due. After taking two balls, Springer launched a home run into the seats in left-center, scoring Tucker and pinch-runner Garrett Stubbs ahead of him.
The Royals had accomplished the improbable in coming back on Cole. But that merely turned Springer’s last at-bat into an opportunity.