Eduardo Escobar Clubs Much Needed Home Run Saturday
Eduardo Escobar. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Entering Saturday afternoon’s game against the Miami Marlin, there was one New York Met that needed a big hit like no other. That was third baseman Eduardo Escobar. The 13-year veteran entered the contest 2-for-24 with no extra-base hits and only one run batted in. That RBI total changed with one swing of the bat at Citi Field on Saturday.
Escobar clubbed a 371 foot, opposite field home run in the sixth inning. The shot that left the bat at 101.3 mph gave New York a 5-1 lead and some much-needed insurance. Escobar, who let out a relieved yell as he rounded the bases, needed that hit sorely.
Eduardo Escobar gets the offensive spark he needed! A long 2-run home run makes it a 5-1 game as the Mets answer back in the 6th! pic.twitter.com/jdV8hXUHpv
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) April 8, 2023
Despite going 1-for-4 in the game, Escobar showed some life at the plate like he hasn’t all year long. In the fourth inning, he hit a moon shot of a fly ball that fell just feet from leaving the yard. He also lined out in the first inning that forced Marlins’ centerfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. to make a nice play.
After the game, Pete Alonso endorsed Escobar as a terrific teammate and person. Specifically, Alonso explained how he’s, “a special individual in the best way possible. He’s a great teammate and a great human being.” Meanwhile, Escobar, despite the home run, said, “At the end of the day, I’m not gonna be able to control what the results are. But, what I can control is my work ethic and my eagerness to get better every day.” So, he knows there is still a lot of work to do.
Regardless of the nice day, Escobar is still only hitting .107 on the season with only one walk and nine strikeouts. He was rightfully feeling the pressure, as his all-but-likely successor Brett Baty had a lovely spring and started out very strong for Triple-A Syracuse. Though, surely both Escobar and the Mets are hopeful that the switch-hitting infielder can build on his strong performance Saturday and turn the extremely young season around. This whether it be at third base,or in a potential designated hitting role if Baty is indeed called up at some point.
The post Eduardo Escobar Clubs Much Needed Home Run Saturday first appeared on Metsmerized Online.