Daily dose of Yordan (Game 79)

Today's statline: 0-4, BB, R, 3 K

At bat 1 (Bottom of first): 1 pitch flyout to center

Pretty simple at bat here, as Yordan swung at the first pitch he saw, a fastball near his hands, and got a pretty good swing off on it. Unfortunately, he got under it a bit, and got jammed, leading to a routine fly ball to left center, where the center fielder made the routine catch for the third out.

At bat 2 (Bottom of fourth): 5 pitch walk, R

Yordan started the at bat by taking a low curve for a strike, before watching a similar pitch for a ball low in the dirt. He then watched two inside fastballs (I think they were fastballs, Eshelman throws so slow idk at this point) to make the count 3-1, before taking a low curve near his feet for ball 4. He would end up advancing to third on a Correa single, before scoring on a Tucker sacrifice fly.

At bat 3 (Bottom of fifth): 8 pitch strikeout swinging

Although Yordan didn't get much out of this at bat, I was still extremely impressed by his approach and the battle he had with the pitcher before striking out. He started the at bat by watching a fastball right down the middle for a strike, before watching two changeups, one low and in the dirt, and the other high and outside. He then hit a screaming line drive to left field that was foul, before watching an incredibly wild high pitch for ball 3 to make the count full. Then on full count Yordan fouled off two changeups low and in the zone, good job to spoil those opportunities for the pitcher to put him away. Unfortunately on the 8th pitch, the pitcher threw a low changeup near the dirt, and Yordan, in an attempt to protect the zone, swung and missed pretty badly for the strikeout. A valiant at bat ended in a sour way.

At bat 4 (Bottom of seventh): 4 pitch strikeout looking

Pretty bad at bat by Yordan here, as he started by swinging and missing, although not by much, on two fastballs low but in the zone. He then fouled off a 0-2 fastball high but also in the zone to protect the plate. Then on 0-2 the pitcher threw a pretty good slider that looked like it sailed out of the zone for ball 1, although not by much. Yet the ump called it a strike to send Yordan back to the dugout in a huge situation. A borderline call ending a mediocre at bat.

[Random question: Why did the Astros use Brandon Bielak of all people to pitch the top of the ninth? Usually for the Dodgers (Who I also watch a lot) the closer (Kenley) pitches the top of the ninth in tie games, very curious why this guy with a career ERA nearing 6 pitched instead of someone like Pressley. Especially frustrating because the Astros scored FOUR runs in the bottom of the inning that could have won the game had a competent player pitched the top of the inning]

At bat 5 (Bottom of ninth): 4 pitch strikeout

Yordan started off the at bat by fouling off a fastball right down the middle before swinging and missing very uncharacteristically at a high fastball near his head. He then took a pitch in a similar location before watching a fastball right down the middle for strike three.

​

Probably a bad time to ask this considering today's performance, but remember to vote Yordan into the all star game! As you guys might know, he moved into the top 3 a couple of days ago, and with a couple more votes, he could very well move past J.D. Martinez, guaranteeing him a spot in his first all star game. Obviously a tough night for Yordan (with some suspicious calls) but you have to stand by him during the slumps to enjoy his good games. Until then, thanks for reading!