MLB Notes: Story continues home-run barrage
Trevor Story took his first swings at Coors Field and had quite a blast.
Two, actually.
Story became the first major leaguer to homer in each of his first four games, connecting two more times for the Colorado Rockies in a 13-6 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday.
Story now has six home runs since making his debut on opening day with two shots off Zack Greinke.
The rookie sensation has connected off five different pitchers, to all fields, off righties and lefties alike, turning fastballs and offspeed pitches into souvenirs for fans in the desert and now the mountains.
“I’m not trying to hit home runs, sometimes it kind of happens,” he said.
Nobody before him had ever posted two multihomer games in his first four big league games, the Elias Sports Bureau said.
“It’s legendary what he’s doing,” Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez said. “He’s fearless. He’s playing like a Hall of Famer right now.”
Cooperstown already has his helmet and batting gloves. Keep this up, “and he’s going to go to the Hall of Fame” himself, suggested Gonzalez.
From the on-deck circle, Gonzalez has had the best view of the shortstop who hit 70 homers in five minor league seasons and won a roster spot this spring when veteran shortstop Jose Reyes was suspended under baseball’s new domestic violence policy.
Story got three hits and drove in four runs while playing for the first time at Coors Field.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it, let alone a rookie,” manager Walt Weiss said. “He’s fun to watch, one of the few bright spots today.”
Matt Kemp and Melvin Upton Jr. homered as the Padres broke loose after they were the first team in big league history to be shut out in its first three games. San Diego was outscored 25-0 while getting swept by the Dodgers. Kemp and Yangervis Solarte each drove in four runs as the Padres spoiled the Rockies’ home opener.
Even the Padres were talking about Story, however.
“He’s come out of nowhere,” Kemp said. “I think anybody who hits six homers in four games, especially being his first week in the big leagues, is impressive. He’s got a great swing. It’s definitely harder than it looks.”
San Diego stranded the bases full in the second and third, stretching its major league record scoreless streak to start the season to 30 innings before erupting for six runs in the fourth.
Story is hitting .368 with 11 RBIs.
Story connected for a two-run drive in the fourth, chasing starter Colin Rea. He tied the major league record by homering in the first four games of a season, joining Chris Davis (2013), Nelson Cruz (2011), Mark McGwire (1998) and Willie Mays (1971).
“That’s pretty crazy,” Story said.
Story said he just clears his mind at the plate, “competes with my eyes” and reacts to the pitch.
Left-hander Robbie Erlin (1-0) got the win with 3 2-3 scoreless innings in which he allowed just one hit.
Jon Jay hit an RBI single for the Padres’ first run. They scored against Jordan Lyles (0-1), making his first start since May 31, 2015. Lyles was tagged for five runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings.
Justin Miller surrendered Kemp’s three-run homer in the fifth and Upton’s two-run shot in the sixth.
After hitting four homers in Arizona, Story came out swinging at Coors, where the Rockies raised the height of the fences over the winter.
Schwarber out for season
The Chicago Cubs say slugger Kyle Schwarber is out for the season after tearing two knee ligaments in an outfield collision. An MRI revealed the injuries to Schwarber’s left knee.
The 23-year-old Schwarber made his major league debut last year. He then hit a franchise-record five home runs in nine postseason games.
Schwarber was expected to produce plenty of power for a Cubs team that many are picking to win their first World Series championship in more than a century. The Cubs were 3-0 this season going into Friday night’s game against the Diamondbacks.
Schwarber was playing left field when he was hurt. He collided with center fielder Dexter Fowler and tumbled on a ball that became an inside-the-park home run for Jean Segura. Schwarber stayed on the ground for several minutes before being helped to his feet and driven off the field in a cart.
Hosmer rescues girl after concert
Eric Hosmer proved he is more of a heartthrob in Kansas City than Justin Bieber and more than a hero on the baseball field.
The Royals first baseman rescued a girl from being trampled after she was knocked down outside the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, following a Bieber concert Wednesday night. When Hosmer was spotted leaving the concert with several teammates, he was mobbed by mostly teenage girls, with one getting knocked to the ground.
Hosmer said before the Royals played the Minnesota Twins that he simply did what anybody would do: “You see a gal on the floor, you help her up.”
He said he was surprised by the attention he received, but acknowledged that, “I guess that’s what happens when you win a world championship – you become more popular.”