By Yirsandy Rodríguez
Expectations have always been high and Alex Bregman has simply lived up to what the Houston Astros needed since his return.
Bregman entered Thursday night producing a .377 / .435 / .574 bar line, with three homers and 13 RBIs in 17 games following his return from the disabled list. Five home plate appearances later, he uncooked the ball against Texas Rangers pitchers, going 2 for 5 in his second game of with four RBIs this year.
Breggy’s back? Breggy’s back.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/ihUZE5toNs
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 17, 2021
Two singles were enough to take advantage of two of his chances with running backs on bases. First, he shook the score up 5-0 at the start of the quarter. And, two innings later, he nailed another cannon shot that increased the lead 9-0, to sentence in the second third a 12-1 success for the Houston Astros on Thursday at Globe Life Field.
Aside from his timely swing, producing as usual in clutch situations, Bregman has posted a soaring .435 OBP that currently leads the Astros lineup this second half of the season. Also, before going 2-for-5 with his 4-RBIs and making history against the Rangers, Bregman had the second-lowest strikeout percentage (10.1) and he backed Kyle Tucker, who leads the Astros offense, with 180 wRC +. (185).
“We always talk about passing the torch to the next player, trying to continue with a good at-bat after a good at-bat.”Bregman told MLB after becoming the 15th Astros hitter to get at least four RBIs in a game against the Texas Rangers. “When we do that, I think we are a very good offense.”
According to Baseball-Reference.com, here are the 19 records for the Astros who rocked the Rangers’ pitching with four hits in one game:
Bregman entered the list along with José Altuve, George Springer and Jason Castro, as the only Astros to have doubled such records in a major league game:
Bregman also praised the work of Astros starter Luis Garcia — he finished with a 3.37 ERA — who seeks to stay in the discussion for the AL Rookie of the Year award.
“It has been incredible for us”Bregman said. “He works very hard on the days he doesn’t pitch. I am very happy for him. I think I would win the rookie of the year. “.
In 337 home plate appearances this season, Bregman is hitting a solid .298 / .377 / .458, but more interestingly, he continues to adjust heading into the postseason, where the 2017 World Series starters, after the scandal of “sign stealing,” they hope to respond with a convincing performance.
(Foto: Alex Bregman/Getty Images)
