Daily dose of Yordan (Game 101)

Today's statline: 1-4, RBI, R, BB, K

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At bat 1 (Top of first): 4 pitch single to center, RBI, (later R)

Yordan started the at bat by taking an offspeed pitch way inside near his feet for ball 1, and then watched a borderline low fastball, again low, for ball 2. He then watched a middle-middle curve right down the middle (or close to it) for the first strike. On the next pitch, Yordan got a hittable fastball low and outside, but still in the zone, and capitalized on it by dumping it into the gap between center field and right field for a deep single. Brantley scored easily and Gurriel would go from first to third on the good hit by Yordan. Good opportunity here by Yordan to capitalize on a hittable fastball in his zone and bring home the first run of what would turn out to be a big inning. He would also later score on a 3-run home run by Kyle Tucker.

At bat 2 (Top of second): 4 pitch popout to third

After watching a high offspeed pitch outside and away for ball one, Yordan had strike one called on a terrible offspeed pitch that looked around 3 inches outside. Yordan couldn't do much other than shake his head and wonder what the hell that call was. As a result of this error, he was forced to protect the plate and swing at a pitch outside of the zone and high next, in case the ump called it a generous strike two. Then on the 1-2 count Yordan got a low offspeed pitch in his sweet spot, but he hit way under it and popped it up, where the third baseman made the routine catch. Bad outcome, but like so many times this season I feel like the critical blown call set Yordan up to fail.

At bat 3 (Top of fourth): 5 pitch groundout to second

The at bat started with a classic Yordan take on a fastball high and outside. The pitcher came back with a low fastball in the zone that was caught for strike one, a pitch Yordan normally targets regardless of count or situation. A bit of a missed opportunity here, but he then watched an offspeed pitch outside to put him ahead 2-1. He then fouled off a slider hard right down the middle to even the count, but then the pitcher came back with a low fastball Yordan pulled to the right side of the infield, where the infielder was perfectly positioned. He bobbled it initially, but Yordan was plodding to first and was still thrown out easily to end the inning.

At bat 4 (Top of sixth): 6 pitch walk

Very interesting decision here by reliever Erik Swanson to throw all fastballs to Yordan here in this at bat. Yordan simply commanded the top of the zone here, with the first, third, and deciding sixth pitches all being high fastballs Yordan simply spit on. In between those pitches he also saw a low fastball for a ball and two Swanson heaters that caught the zone, one of which Yordan fouled off hard. Extremely good at bat here by Yordan to avoid chasing in a cold zone (high and away) and taking his base against a pitcher who clearly was afraid of using his offspeed stuff against him. He wouldn't score though, as Correa popped out immediately after him to end the inning.

At bat 5 (Top of ninth): 6 pitch strikeout swinging

After a devastating bottom of the 8th for Yordan and the Astros, which included a heartbreaking lead-changing grand slam, Yordan batted leadoff in the ninth, looking a little shaken up. He started by watching two high pitches, a slider first and then a fastball, both for balls, but then he fouled off a fastball right down the middle he probably should have done more with. He then watched another high fastball to make it a 3-1 count, but then watched a questionable slider to make the count full. Then on the sixth pitch Yordan finally chased a fastball out of the zone, as he swung and missed badly on a high and away pitch to end his night. A quality offensive game overall marred by a depressing ending, pretty representative of the Astros and Yordan.