Pirates’ Orelvis Cruz Makes History with Record-Breaking Homer
Pittsburgh — The Pittsburgh Pirates’ center fielder, Oneil Cruz, showcased his remarkable power-hitting abilities during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park.
Cruz squared off against the Milwaukee Brewers’ opening right-handed pitcher, Freddy Peralta. In his at-bat with a count of 3-1, Cruz managed to smack a four-seam fastball squarely on the hand, sending it flying over the fence as a solo homerun during the bottom portion of the third inning, which put the Pirates ahead with a score of 1-0.
The ball he smashed traveled at an astounding speed of 117.9 mph off the bat, marking the highest exit velocity for a homer in his career so far. This impressive shot cleared the field for 442 feet, launched at an angle of 20 degrees, and would have resulted in a home run regardless of which Major League Baseball stadium it was hit in.
This was also his ninth home run for the season, his first homer in May, and his first since April 26 against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
Cruz once again delivered for the Pirates in the bottom of the ninth inning when he smashed an impressive 98.8 mph sinker thrown by Milwaukee’s right-handed pitcher Abner Uribe. He sent the ball flying 427 feet into the right-field seats, tying the game up at 4-4.
This was his inaugural multi-home run game in his career, which turned out to be pivotal as the Pirates eventually secured victory with a score of 6-5 after ten innings.
After the match, Cruz addressed the press via his translator, Stephen Morales, expressing his enthusiasm for crucial moments and his desire to thrive under pressure.
For certain. These are precisely the scenarios where you, as a player, aim to develop. Whether it’s tying the match or putting your team in front, you definitely wish to find yourself in such positions.
Cruz has demonstrated his prowess from the leadoff position this season, recording four hits in those spots during game starts. These occurrences happened consecutively at PNC Park on April 17 in a 1-0 victory against the opponent.
Washington Nationals
and a 10-7 defeat to the Cleveland Guardians on April 18, followed by a 3-0 victory over them
Los Angeles Angels
at Angels Stadium on April 24 and his last home run vs. the Dodgers.
He also hit the
first
grand slam of his career in a 6-1 victory over the Nationals on April 16.
Cruz is slashing .229/.358/.464 for an OPS of .822, with 35 hits, six doubles, 10 home runs, 21 RBIs, 30 walks to 59 strikeouts and an MLB-leading 18 stolen bases.
He suffered a minor injury, after attempting to steal on a walk against the Atlanta Braves at home on May 10, which caused him to miss four games, including the New York Mets series at Citi Field, May 12-14.
Cruz returned vs. the Philadelphia Phillies for the next series at Citizens Bank Park, where he struggled, striking out eight times in nine at-bats, including three times on May 17 and four times on May 18, as the Pirates suffered a sweep.
He spoke on his back after the victory and said that he’s getting close to full health and is getting better every day.
“I’m feeling like I’m in a great position at the moment,” Cruz stated. Though not entirely back to 100%, he’s very nearly there, which makes him feel quite positive since he has consistently put effort into his workouts in the training room to stay in top shape. Things are progressing nicely.”
Recently, Cruz has been displaying greater confidence in his gameplay, recording five hits in his past 12 at-bats and managing a hit in each of the last three consecutive games.
He aims to keep that up moving ahead and was happy with how he performed against a strong team such as the Brewers.
There’s definitely plenty of self-assurance, which is how I approach each game to get things done. I consistently believe in my abilities and capabilities, and we faced a strong opponent today. They likely had similar intentions. However, maintaining high confidence is crucial for me as it helps overcome all challenges on the field.
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