In the seventh inning of last night’s game against the Yankees, rookie first baseman Dominic Smith cracked his first Major League home run – a two-run opposite-field shot off Yankees starter Sonny Gray.
“It felt good,” Smith said after the game. “It feels like a big weight is lifted off your shoulders and you feel good that you’re able to contribute.”
“In that last at-bat, I was more patient and more calm and trying to do what got me here,” Smith continued. “I just tried to take what he gave me and I didn’t try to do too much.”
Later in the game, teammate Amed Rosario came up big, socking another two-run opposite-field shot. This one came off All Star closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning to trim the Yankee’s lead to 5-4.
“I went out there looking for his hardest pitch and I hit his slowest pitch,” Rosario said through a translator.
Both of Rosario’s MLB home runs have come in the 9th inning off closers, and both have been to the opposite field. Not only has he shown that he can hit to all fields, his clutch hitting is something to be very excited about.
On base in front of Rosario was Jose Reyes, who reached base on an infield single to first baseman Chase Headley. More interestingly, however, was that Reyes had pinch-hit for Dominic Smith. This was a questionable move by Terry Collins as the young Smith would have benefited from being exposed to such a tough lefty.
“He’ll have his chances down the road,” Collins said of the move.
Both Smith and Rosario have impressed so far, both on offense and defense. Smith is now hitting .235 (4-for-17) on the season while Rosario, called up earlier, has hit .255 (12-for-47) with one double, two triples and two home runs.
One other thing of note is Mets broadcaster Gary Cohen is keeping a running count on Rosario, who has yet to draw a walk in the major leagues. Cohen gives an update during each of Amed’s plate appearances, “And now that’s 48 plate appearances without a walk for Rosario.”
