CHICAGO -- A day after Masataka Yoshida’s thirtieth birthday, when he got here up empty in his pursuit of tying Ted Williams for essentially the most consecutive multihit video games by a left-handed hitter in Red Sox historical past, the left fielder obtained again to enterprise on Sunday.

The one factor Yoshida has made clear by means of most of his first Major League season is that he can not often be held down for greater than an remoted day or two.

His strategy is just too sound and his swing is just too pure.

Yoshida struck at simply the fitting time in Sunday’s 11-5 victory within the rubber match of a three-game collection at Wrigley Field, unloading for a two-out, grand slam within the high of the fifth off Cubs All-Star ace Justin Steele.

“It's kind of like a video game,” profitable pitcher Kutter Crawford stated of watching Yoshida hit. “He’s unbelievable. He's a great hitter, great teammate, and he's helping the team in a lot of ways.”

The floodgates opened when Yoshida tore right into a 2-0 fastball on the higher, center portion of the plate and put it within the basket above the ivy in deep proper subject to make it 6-0, Red Sox.

It was a tricky tablet to swallow for Steele, who, with the bases loaded, struck out Rafael Devers and induced Adam Duvall into an infield popup earlier than Yoshida got here to the plate and ruined his afternoon.

“For me, it’s bases loaded and a 2-0 count. I was trying to get him to roll over a ground ball,” stated Steele. “The two pitches have been fairly aggressive after which, 2-0, I simply form of needed to throw a strike. I didn’t need to fall behind, 3-0. But, he did what he was alleged to do. That was a tricky break. But, issues occur. It’s baseball."

Impressively, Yoshida’s OPS is definitely larger in opposition to lefties (.896) than righties (.877). 

Truth be informed, Yoshida has dealt with righties and lefties with routine excellence. 

For good measure, Yoshida added to his monster Sunday with a two-run triple in opposition to righty reliever Michael Rucker to cap his six-RBI afternoon.

The grand slam was Yoshida’s second. He additionally hit one on April 23 in Milwaukee, one other Sunday through which he additionally had six RBIs.

Yoshida simply retains on chugging alongside, as this was his ninth multihit efficiency over his previous 10 video games.

“Whenever I can hit, I want to hit a lot,” stated Yoshida.

And so he has. Particularly of late. Over his previous 10 video games, Yoshida is 20-for-43 with an OPS of 1.245.

While Yoshida is just 315 at-bats into his profession, his supervisor has already run out of adjectives.

“He’s good, man. There’s nothing else I can say,” stated Alex Cora.

The five-year, $90-million deal the Red Sox signed Yoshida to when many different groups within the recreation didn’t suppose he was price near that's trying fairly good.

Yoshida has a batting line of .317/.381/.502 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs.

“I think we all learn from his approach,” stated Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas, who hit a homer in all three video games at Wrigley. “He’s just spraying the ball all over the field, taking really quality at-bats. Not chasing out of the zone, putting the ball in play. He’s all around, one of the best hitters in the league for average and he’s starting to hit for power and he’s got that clutch factor here.”

Backed by Yoshida’s newest eruption, the Red Sox (50-44) headed out for his or her temporary West Coast interlude, a three-game collection in Oakland, on a great be aware. Boston has received 10 of its final 12 and 17 of 26.

This, regardless of three beginning pitchers on the injured record in Chris Sale, Tanner Houck and Garrett Whitlock.

Crawford is a kind of pitchers being known as on to fill the void, and he did a wonderful job of it on Sunday, handing over his finest begin of the season. Over six innings, Crawford allowed one hit and 4 walks whereas hanging out a career-high of 9.

“It was an all-around good effort. And it's a long flight but it's a happy one,” stated Cora.

And few folks on the Red Sox have extra to be blissful about than Yoshida, who simply retains on raking.

Said Casas: “We’re all taking notes from him.”

Content Source: www.mlb.com