Pederson hit two homers in the Cubs’ 4-3 win over the Pirates as his new look continues to turn heads.
PITTSBURGH – Joc Pederson admitted that his wife is not a big fan of his newly grown mustache. But if he keeps hitting homers, he may try to keep it around a little bit longer.
“She’s on me,” Pederson said with a laugh. “I better not go 0-fer. I’m just messing around. It’s all in fun.”
Pederson has been on a monster tear in the month of May and has given the Cubs a major boost since coming off the injured list and his presence at the top of the lineup has added what has started to look like a dynamic offense.
The Cubs’ lead-off man powered the offense in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Pirates, slugging a pair of no-doubt home runs in the victory.
Pederson got the Cubs on the board after the Pirates took an early 3-0 lead against Jake Arrieta. The Cubs’ left fielder battled, working a 3-2 count before hitting a towering solo home run in the third inning to make it a 3-1 game.
“Great game for him today. We kind of started off a little bit lethargic,” Ross said. “Picked us up with the big home run there just to get us on board and then obviously the two-run homer to tie it was really nice.
“I think he’s just found his timing. This is that playoff-type of player that you see when he’s locked in. He looks really good right now. He’s swinging the bat as good as anybody.”
But he didn’t stop there as he crushed a 401-foot, two-run blast in the fifth inning to tie the game at 3. It was the 16th multi-homer game of Pederson’s career. First baseman Anthony Rizzo gave the Cubs the lead later in the inning with an RBI-single.
The Cubs’ left fielder capped his night with a third extra-base hit as he doubled in ninth.
Pederson’s hot streak didn’t start with him hitting the ball out of the ballpark and trying to homer himself out of his slump. It started simple and as he took the ball the other way – lining balls opposite the shift not only was finding the barrel consistently, but the hits also started falling in.
“I was hitting some balls really hard for a while and nothing was kind of going in the air. Just some singles, but it is what it is,” he said. “I didn’t want to go up there and try to do more and get away from what was being successful. Just trust that it’s going to come in time.”
But it was only going to be a matter of time before his big-time power started to show up in games.
He’s now slashing .370 in the month of May with three homers in the last five days. After a frigid April has increased his season slash line to .267/.343/.431.
“I was lucky to get some pitches today that I was able to drive out of the ballpark and just stick with the same approach of hitting the ball hard and getting on base and doing what I can to help the team win,” he said. “We’re on a really good little stretch right now.”
As for his new look, whether it’s the reason for his recent success or not, Pederson has a message for those who can’t see his vaguely visible ‘stache.
“Don’t come at me like that. Look at that thing. Sorry, I can’t grow a great one. This is all I got. It’s hard work, it’s there though. I need the right lighting.”
from Chicago Sun-Times - All https://ift.tt/3bTHzc8
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