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PITTSBURGH ( COLE )
CINCINNATI ( IGLESIAS ) |
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| 953 | PITTSBURGH | -155 | Ov 8,+100 | -145 | Ov 8,+100 | | 954 | CINCINNATI | +145 | Un 8,-120 | +135 | Un 8,-120 |
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| All Games | 60-42 | +9.9 | 45-47 | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.310 | 0.388 | 0.698 | 3.7 | 0.251 | 0.307 | 0.362 | 0.669 | | Road Games | 25-25 | -1.5 | 21-22 | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.309 | 0.386 | 0.695 | 4.2 | 0.266 | 0.327 | 0.383 | 0.710 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 50-33 | +11.6 | 37-37 | 4.2 | 0.254 | 0.306 | 0.387 | 0.694 | 3.6 | 0.250 | 0.306 | 0.362 | 0.669 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +2.2 | 5-1 | 5.9 | 0.273 | 0.320 | 0.438 | 0.758 | 6.4 | 0.318 | 0.379 | 0.506 | 0.884 | | Grass Games | 60-42 | +9.9 | 45-47 | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.310 | 0.388 | 0.698 | 3.7 | 0.251 | 0.307 | 0.362 | 0.669 | | Night Games | 40-30 | +2.6 | 33-31 | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.307 | 0.383 | 0.690 | 3.9 | 0.256 | 0.312 | 0.373 | 0.685 | | Division | 18-25 | -11.9 | 21-17 | 3.8 | 0.242 | 0.304 | 0.372 | 0.676 | 4.3 | 0.265 | 0.329 | 0.390 | 0.719 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.258 | 0.310 | 102 | 3533 | 912 | 190 | 13 | 81 | 0.388 | 398 | 265 | 826 | 68 | 729 | 83 | 76 | 119 | 92 | | Road Games | 4.2 | 0.259 | 0.309 | 50 | 1791 | 463 | 101 | 5 | 39 | 0.386 | 195 | 131 | 447 | 37 | 374 | 39 | 47 | 60 | 53 | | Righty Starters | 4.2 | 0.254 | 0.306 | 83 | 2877 | 732 | 158 | 10 | 68 | 0.387 | 321 | 216 | 670 | 51 | 582 | 69 | 60 | 105 | 72 |
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| All Games | 2.87 | 1.232 | 310 | 112 | 99 | 285 | 30 | 97 | 267 | 16-13 | 35 | 9 | 79.5% | | Road Games | 3.08 | 1.443 | 149 | 62 | 51 | 155 | 14 | 60 | 136 | 3-9 | 15 | 5 | 75% |
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| All Games | 46-55 | -9.4 | 50-45 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.315 | 0.405 | 0.721 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.316 | 0.399 | 0.715 | | Home Games | 26-23 | +0.8 | 28-17 | 4.8 | 0.267 | 0.334 | 0.441 | 0.776 | 4.6 | 0.254 | 0.323 | 0.404 | 0.727 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 34-41 | -7.6 | 36-35 | 4.0 | 0.252 | 0.314 | 0.399 | 0.714 | 4.4 | 0.251 | 0.317 | 0.401 | 0.718 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +2.2 | 2-4 | 5.3 | 0.285 | 0.350 | 0.430 | 0.779 | 4.7 | 0.237 | 0.296 | 0.421 | 0.717 | | Grass Games | 46-55 | -9.4 | 50-45 | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.315 | 0.405 | 0.721 | 4.4 | 0.248 | 0.316 | 0.399 | 0.715 | | Night Games | 35-34 | +3.2 | 34-31 | 4.1 | 0.255 | 0.316 | 0.408 | 0.724 | 4.2 | 0.240 | 0.308 | 0.387 | 0.695 | | Division | 20-23 | +0.4 | 22-18 | 4.1 | 0.247 | 0.311 | 0.398 | 0.709 | 4.3 | 0.244 | 0.312 | 0.397 | 0.709 |
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| All Games | 4.0 | 0.253 | 0.315 | 101 | 3480 | 882 | 153 | 17 | 114 | 0.405 | 391 | 314 | 727 | 98 | 724 | 84 | 51 | 78 | 65 | | Home Games | 4.8 | 0.267 | 0.334 | 49 | 1683 | 450 | 77 | 6 | 68 | 0.441 | 221 | 169 | 342 | 47 | 362 | 37 | 15 | 35 | 38 | | Righty Starters | 4.0 | 0.252 | 0.314 | 75 | 2579 | 651 | 115 | 9 | 82 | 0.399 | 290 | 232 | 535 | 71 | 550 | 58 | 39 | 65 | 54 |
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| All Games | 4.24 | 1.362 | 312 | 160 | 147 | 289 | 28 | 136 | 278 | 15-20 | 22 | 12 | 64.7% | | Home Games | 3.92 | 1.297 | 172 | 76 | 75 | 154 | 15 | 69 | 173 | 12-8 | 11 | 7 | 61.1% |
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| 7/18/2015 | WORLEY(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | 5-8 | L | -125 | 8 un | O | 8 | 7 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 2 | | 7/19/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | JUNGMANN(R) | 1-6 | L | 125 | 8 un | U | 6 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VENTURA(R) | 10-7 | W | 125 | 7 ev | O | 17 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 8 | 1 | | 7/21/2015 | COLE(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 1-3 | L | -115 | 7 ov | U | 8 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VOLQUEZ(R) | 1-5 | L | 115 | 7.5 ev | U | 8 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 0 | | 7/23/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 7-3 | W | -185 | 7 un | O | 13 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | | 7/24/2015 | LOCKE(L) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 7-5 | W | +120 | 6.5 un | O | 12 | 5 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | BURNETT(R) | WASHINGTON | GONZALEZ(L) | 3-9 | L | -145 | 7 ov | O | 7 | 5 | 2 | 14 | 9 | 1 | | 7/26/2015 | COLE(R) | WASHINGTON | ROSS(R) | 3-1 | W | -160 | 7 un | U | 5 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 7/28/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 8-7 | W | -105 | 9.5 un | O | 11 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 1 | | 7/29/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ MINNESOTA | SANTANA(R) | 10-4 | W | -130 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 3 | | 7/30/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ CINCINNATI | HOLMBERG(L) | 5-15 | L | -150 | 9 un | O | 11 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 13 | 0 | | 7/31/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ CINCINNATI | LORENZEN(R) | 5-4 | W | -125 | 9 un | P | 7 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 0 | | 8/1/2015 | COLE(R) | @ CINCINNATI | IGLESIAS(R) | | | 8/2/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ CINCINNATI | AXELROD(R) | | | 8/3/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | LESTER(L) | | | 8/4/2015 | BURNETT(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | ARRIETA(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | LOCKE(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | COLE(R) | LA DODGERS | KERSHAW(L) | | | 8/8/2015 | | LA DODGERS | | |
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| 7/18/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | CLEVELAND | KLUBER(R) | 4-9 | L | +145 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 0 | | 7/19/2015 | CUETO(R) | CLEVELAND | CARRASCO(R) | 3-5 | L | -110 | 7 un | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 18 | 0 | | 7/20/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | RICHARD(L) | 5-4 | W | -110 | 9.5 un | U | 8 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 7/21/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HAMMEL(R) | 4-5 | L | +115 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 14 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | LEAKE(R) | CHICAGO CUBS | HENDRICKS(R) | 9-1 | W | +105 | 8 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | | 7/22/2015 | CINGRANI(L) | CHICAGO CUBS | BEELER(R) | 5-6 | L | -120 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 1 | | 7/24/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ COLORADO | BUTLER(R) | 5-6 | L | 105 | 11 un | P | 10 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 7/25/2015 | CUETO(R) | @ COLORADO | RUSIN(L) | 5-2 | W | -130 | 10 un | U | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 2 | | 7/26/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 7-17 | L | -115 | 11.5 un | O | 14 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 5 | 0 | | 7/27/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | 1-4 | L | 150 | 7.5 un | U | 5 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 7/28/2015 | LEAKE(R) | @ ST LOUIS | GARCIA(L) | 4-0 | W | 135 | 7 ev | U | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 7/29/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | 1-0 | W | 155 | 7.5 un | U | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | | 7/30/2015 | HOLMBERG(L) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 15-5 | W | +140 | 9 un | O | 19 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 1 | | 7/31/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 4-5 | L | +115 | 9 un | P | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 8/1/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 8/2/2015 | AXELROD(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 8/4/2015 | DESCLAFANI(R) | ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | | | 8/5/2015 | HOLMBERG(L) | ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | | | 8/6/2015 | LORENZEN(R) | ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | | | 8/7/2015 | IGLESIAS(R) | @ ARIZONA | RAY(L) | | | 8/8/2015 | | @ ARIZONA | | |
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| |  | PITTSBURGH: PITTSBURGH (AP) - The scenario was familiar. The destination not so much.
A veteran player with not much time left leaving millions of dollars on the table for one last run to glory. Only A.J. Burnett didn't walk away from his $12.75 million player option with the Philadelphia Phillies for Los Angeles, Washington or St. Louis.
Nope, the 38-year-old well-traveled (and well tattooed) pitcher practically sprinted to Pittsburgh. His arrival in 2012 marked a sea change in the once-floundering organization's direction. His return three years later signals - he hopes - the end of the team's slow but steady slog from downtrodden afterthought to world champion. And he's not kidding.
''I want to win a ring and I want to win a ring in Pittsburgh,'' Burnett said.
The Pirates are as close to being in the conversation as they've been in nearly a quarter century. And they've opened up their wallets, at least a little, to get there. Pittsburgh made Francisco Liriano the highest-paid free agent in team history when they signed lefthander to a three-year, $39-million deal in the offseason to continue the career resurgence that began when they took a two-year flier on him in 2013. And while Burnett took a cut, he isn't exactly going broke. He'll make $8 million to work as the third man in the rotation behind Liriano and Gerrit Cole.
Pittsburgh even spent $5 million for the rights to sign Korean infielder Jung-Ho Kang, who hit 40 home runs on the other side of the world last year and gives the Pirates an intriguing if unproven option should shortstop Jordy Mercer falter or second baseman Neil Walker's back flare up.
General manager Neal Huntington remains adamant his team's budget will never compare to those of clubs in larger markets but allows there is ''more margin for error'' than in years' past.
''We've built a deeper club because of the money allocated to us,'' he said. ''But we need to continue to grow and mature. We want to put ourselves in a position to win the World Series.''
There are worse places to start than in Pittsburgh, which backed up its breakthrough year in 2013 with a second straight postseason berth in 2014. The playoff run ended abruptly against Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in the NL wild card game. Yet the point had been made. The Pirates aren't going anywhere.
''It would've been easy to say 2013 was a fluke and we just got lucky,'' centerfielder Andrew McCutchen said. ''But we showed up in `14 and were able to do the same thing. We know we're for real. And other teams know they just can't come in (thinking), `All right, we're going to beat the Pirates.' We're not that team anymore.''
They're also not where they want to be, at least not yet. A National League Central title would avoid the fickleness of a one-game scenario. Pittsburgh believes it's built to withstand the rigors of October.
Here are the keys to getting there:
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THE OTHER FRANCISCO
The Pirates' budget might be growing, but they still couldn't afford to keep catcher Russell Martin, who parlayed his tremendous 2014 into a $82 million deal with Toronto. Pittsburgh prepared for Martin's departure by trading for longtime Yankees' backup catcher Francisco Cervelli. When healthy Cervelli is an adequate defensive replacement with a decent if not powerful bat. If he can handle the pitching staff and control the basepaths, any offense he provides would be a plus.
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SPEED TO BURN
Perennial MVP candidate McCutchen anchors one of baseball's most athletic outfields. Starling Marte surged toward the end of a bumpy 2014 and Gregory Polanco is a raw but talented work in progress. Pittsburgh felt confident enough in Polanco's progress to trade Travis Snider to Baltimore.
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PEDRO'S PROGRESS
Pedro Alvarez moves across the infield to first base in hopes of salvaging his career after developing a serious case of the yips at third. If his can reclaim the groove that helped him mash 36 homers in 2013, the Pirates can live with whatever growing pains may come with the switch.
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KANG SHOW
Kang (pronounced ''Gahng'') doesn't lack for confidence. He told reporters in Korea he believes he can supplant Mercer at shortstop. It may take longer than he thought after a sluggish spring training.
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THE VANIMAL
Vance Worley, like Liriano, Burnett and the since departed Edinson Volquez, thrived under pitching coach Ray Searage's mentoring last spring. He was arguably Pittsburgh's best starter down the stretch and a strong spring gives him a leg up in the battle Jeff Locke for the fifth starter spot. | | CINCINNATI: CINCINNATI (AP) - The rotation was Cincinnati's strength in an otherwise disappointing season last year. It's the Reds' biggest question as they try to move forward.
They're not sure what they're getting beyond 20-game-winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake, the only two holdovers who are healthy enough to pitch as the season begins. They've got some veteran retreads and unproven young starters trying to hold it together.
The rotation could be a work in progress well into the season.
''I know what the regular lineup looks like,'' second-year manager Bryan Price said. ''The biggest challenge is the bullpen and deciding roles and finalizing the last two starting pitchers.''
The Reds created two openings by trading Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon in the offseason. Homer Bailey hasn't fully recovered from surgery on his forearm and won't be ready until at least mid-April.
Cincinnati is counting on Anthony DeSclafani, who was acquired from Miami in the trade for Latos, to fill one of the spots. The rest of the rotation was under construction late in spring training, a sign of how much things had changed from a year ago.
''We feel we have a competitive team,'' Price said. ''This isn't a rebuilt situation. So we have to feel as confident as we can one-through-five in our rotation.''
The Reds lost 86 games last season in large part because of a subpar offense and a bullpen that finished as one of the NL's worst. They've tried to fix those two problems in the offseason through trades and free agency.
Now, a lot of it is on the starters to make it hold together during a special season in Cincinnati, which will host the All-Star Game. Some things to watch:
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CUETO'S CONTRACT
Cueto is entering the final year on his deal. The Reds have talked to him about an extension, but nothing was imminent as spring training wound down. If Cueto doesn't have an extension by midseason, the Reds would be in the position of considering a trade offer rather than letting him leave as a free agent after the season.
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VOTTO'S LEG
First baseman Joey Votto didn't play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. The 2010 National League MVP felt good in spring training. The Reds struggled to score runs last season despite playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. If Votto is back to form, the offense will get a huge boost. The question is whether he can make it through the season without getting hurt again.
''I think that I've proven when healthy that I'm a helpful part of the team,'' Votto said.
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NEEDING RELIEF
The bullpen was one of the biggest problems in the second half of the season, contributing to the Reds' collapse. They were only 1 1/2 games out in the NL Central at the All-Star break, but went 25-42 the rest of the way. The bullpen was 1-17 after the break. Closer Aroldis Chapman was dependable, but the middle of the bullpen was a huge problem. The Reds added Burke Badenhop and Kevin Gregg to try to help, and moved left-hander Tony Cingrani into a relief role during spring training.
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OUT IN LEFT FIELD
Ryan Ludwick struggled in his return from a significant shoulder injury, and nobody else excelled in left field, either, making it the biggest weakness in the lineup. The Reds got Marlon Byrd in a trade with the Phillies, hoping to finally stabilize the position. The 14-year veteran knows there's a lot at stake in how he performs.
''Yes, there is pressure and there should be,'' Byrd said. ''This is a team that wanted me. I've got to come in to fill that veteran role, the left field spot, and bring some pop to the lineup. I have to do what I've done the last two years. To do any less is just a failure on my part.''
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RUN BILLY RUN
Center fielder Billy Hamilton had an exceptional rookie season, stealing a club-record 56 bases. He wore down as the season went along, batting only .200 with 18 steals in the second half. The 6-foot, 160-pound leadoff hitter lifted weights in the offseason, trying to get stronger so he doesn't fade again.
''I'm not a power hitter, but I want to be stronger than last year,'' Hamilton said. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-CINCINNATI) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Reds Preview* ======================
By JUSTIN EINHORN STATS Senior Editor
Pittsburgh (59-42) at Cincinnati (46-54), 7:10 p.m. EDT
If it weren't for poor results against the sub-.500 Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates' wild-card lead would be even bigger.
So would Gerrit Cole's major league lead in wins.
The only team Cole has faced more than once and never beaten is the Reds, and they're responsible for three of the Pirates' only five losses in 20 games he's started this year entering Saturday night's matchup in Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh is 3-8 in the season series even after hanging on to win 5-4 on Friday. The Pirates (60-42) halted a six-game losing streak in Cincinnati as Mark Melancon narrowly escaped with his club-record 31st straight save, giving up two singles and a walk before Starling Marte threw out Brandon Phillips at the plate and made a game-ending diving catch on Marlon Byrd's line drive.
The Pirates finished an NL-best 17-9 in July and are four games better than any other wild-card contender.
Cole (14-4, 2.24 ERA) is a big reason why - no other pitcher has more than 12 victories - but half of his losses have come to the Reds (46-55). He's had a quality start in every game this season other than his three versus Cincinnati, posting a 6.75 ERA.
The Pirates have lost all five career starts Cole has made against the Reds as he's gone 0-3 with a 5.53 ERA, his highest versus any NL team. The only other one he hasn't defeated is Colorado, but the ace right-hander has had just one chance.
When he last faced Cincinnati, Cole was tagged for five runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings of a 5-2 loss June 24.
"I don't look and say, 'Hey, we're getting Gerrit Cole this time through; I sure am happy about that,'" Reds manager Bryan Price said following the game. "There's certain starters in the league where you're going, 'I hope that guy ends up pitching against us because we hit him really, really good.' But Gerrit Cole is not one of them."
Byrd and Todd Frazier are both 4 for 8 against him in 2015, with Byrd homering twice and Frazier hitting for the cycle. Byrd, 5 for 10 with two homers through two games of this series, is 6 for 13 lifetime against Cole and Phillips is 5 for 11.
"We know they're an offensive team, we know that they've got professional hitters," Cole said after losing to the Reds in June.
He yielded a run and struck out eight in 7 2-3 innings in Sunday's 3-1 victory over Washington, becoming the first Pittsburgh pitcher with 14 wins before August since Dock Ellis in 1971.
"Obviously, when we have Cole on the mound, we feel like two, three runs on most occasions is enough," second baseman Neil Walker told MLB's official website.
The Pirates may need another gem from Cole with their bullpen struggling. Besides Melancon looking shaky Friday, newly acquired Joakim Soria loaded the bases in the seventh and only escaped after snaring Brayan Pena's liner. Jared Hughes allowed an earned run for the first time since June 9, and Pirates relievers have a 6.23 ERA over the past eight games.
The Reds bullpen - and maybe starter Raisel Iglesias (1-3, 5.53) - face a tough task considering the Pirates have scored 37 runs in the fifth inning or later during a 6-2 stretch.
Fifteen of the 16 runs Iglesias has allowed in his last four starts have come after the first three innings. The rookie right-hander, who hasn't faced Pittsburgh, doesn't have a quality start in three outings since missing six weeks with a strained oblique.
Among his biggest concerns should be Jung Ho Kang, batting .467 in his last 12 games after delivering three doubles Friday. Andrew McCutchen hit his second homer in three games and is 6 for 13 in that span with five RBIs. Marte is batting .425 during a 10-game hitting streak.
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| | Last Updated: 4/26/2024 8:51:10 PM EST. |
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