A missile from a house run to create necessary breathing space. A link, well attacking single to the opposite field.
This was the Amed Rosario the Mets saw so much of in the second half of last season. For one night he was back.
Rosario picked up the Mets’ second straight win over the Marlins, an 8-3 straight in Miami, with two hits and three RBIs Tuesday night.
“It’s good for him to build back-to-back games with a few hits,” said Luis Rojas. ‘His approach has improved. He chased a few more pitches last night, but better – much better. “
He would have had even more production if the rocket in his second at-bat with two rounds in scoring position had not been hit directly by third baseman Brian Anderson. As it was, it was a strong start in the right direction for the 24-year-old Rosario, who also had two hits and an RBI in Monday’s running victory.
In the seventh inning, he hit a Nick Vincent fastball and blew his second home run of the year, a 434-foot shot that gave the Mets an insurance run. And in the eighth with the bases loaded, he led a Brad Boxberger fastball to right-center field to place two runs.
‘Those are really good signs that he sees the ball better and that he trusts [himself] more, ”said Rojas. “We need to build from this, stay consistent.”
It has been a rough open for this short season for Rosario, who missed two games with a left quad injury then three more last week with an illness. Despite the impressive play in place by Andres Gimenez, Rojas said Rosario is his shortstop, despite wearing an anemic .211 / .211 / .310 slash line and .521 OPS Tuesday night in play.
‘I find it difficult this season. But I kept working, ”Rosario said through a translator. “I kept a positive attitude and I finally knew that the work I put into the results would eventually come as it does today.”
Rosario had entered the game with regarding figures. His yachting rate of 44.6 was quite high and his shooting speed of 84.9 mph was down from a year ago, according to Statcast. He still needs to take another walk this season. He tried to improve in those areas, and lately he has noticed some improvements.
“What I have been trying to do the last few days has been to shrink my stress zone so I can focus on the fields where I can do damage,” Rosario said. “I just try to avoid as many pitches as I have.”
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