Tuesday’s game between the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants was incredible for the average fan.
It was a slogfest in which home runs, clutch hits, lead changes, and two very good teams gave them all.
The Giants trailed 13-12, but both teams were competitors.
The Giants had a clear offensive star: outfielder Jock Pederson.
You could say it was May in May … no?
All right.
Pederson went 4 for 6 with three homers and eight RBIs in the game.
He started his great day with a two-run shot in the third inning, then exploded two more runs in the fifth inning and his last round-tripper tied the game in the eighth inning and had a three-run variation.
He also hit an RBI singles in ninth place to tie the game again.
Left-handed slugger is now hitting .255 / .316 / .578 with 10 homers and 22 RBI 102 at-bat.
Pederson put himself in the lineup on Wednesday
It was a truly amazing performance, forcing the manager Gabe Kepler’s hand in creating the lineup.
“The Giants are very strict about the platoon, but Jock Pederson is clearly on the lineup today against a left-wing starter. Alex Pavlovic of NBCS Bay Area tweeted, “It was strictly self-defense on my part,” Gabe Kepler said with a smile.
The Giants are very strict about the platoon, but Jock Pederson is clearly in the lineup against a left starter today. “It was strictly self-preservation on my part,” Gabe Kepler said with a smile.
– Alex Pavlovic (PavlovicNBCS) May 25, 2022
Pederson has not been a reliable hitter against left-handed pitchers in his career.
Of course, he has mashed against the right, but the left often gives him some problems, as it often does in the case of left-to-left matchups.
Kepler, however, did not want to bench him after hitting three home runs last night.
For a day, the giants are breaking their strict platoon rule.
The way Pederson is swinging the bat can be worth it.