MLB Player Goes 7 Straight Games With HR, Sets Franchise Record
The Toronto Blue Jays have toiled away in obscurity for most of this MLB season, basically playing out the string with no hope of making the postseason.
But one player on the Blue Jays is making headlines with his bat and garnering the attention of the rest of the major leagues.
Jays first baseman Kendrys Morales has hit home runs in seven straight games, and counting. His latest, a two-run blast, came Sunday in an 8-3 loss to the Phillies.
With the homer against the Phillies, Morales set the franchise record previously held by Jose Cruz Jr., who hit homers in six straight games in 2001.
He is now one of just seven players in MLB history to hit homers in seven or more straight games. He joins Jim Thome, Barry Bonds and Kevin Mench who hit home runs in seven straight games.
Three players — Ken Griffey Jr., Dale Long, and Don Mattingly — hit homers in eight straight games. Monday night the Jays slugger has a chance to tie that record.
“There’s a lot of emotions,” Morales said when asked what the streak, according to the Toronto Sun. “I’m just really happy that (Cooperstown) wants something.”
Morales now has 21 home runs on the season, along with 53 RBIs.
that's it for kendry morales who has hit a homer in 7 straight games…dale long, ken griffey jr. and the great Don Mattingly hold the record with 8 straight games
— algwiz (@algwiz) August 26, 2018
Morales also has a 10-game hitting streak going.
According to MLB.com, Morales credits an adjustment made to his swing to increase his bat speed for the increase in his home-run output.
“My bat was a little bit horizontal, so I wasn’t getting into the pitch middle or inside, so I’m just trying to bring my nob a little more to the catcher so I can cover a little more and just a little bit faster to the ball,” Morales said.
Morales couldn’t have asked for a better opponent in his attempt Monday to tie the record than the Orioles. The Orioles are historically bad at 37-94 and Morales, a lefty, will be facing David Hess, a right hander who is 2-8 with a 5.50 ERA.
Morales is 4-for-6 in his career against Hess with a home run.
Also, according to ESPN, Morales has six home runs in 116 at-bats in his career at Camden Yards.
The league will be watching to see if he makes history.
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