‘Consistency’ — and quoting Bob Marley — key for Marlins’ Bryan De La Cruz during hit streak

Bryan De La Cruz quoted Bob Marley to explain his approach on the plate.

Specifically, the Miami Marlins outfielder quoted the song “Three Little Birds.”

De La Cruz has no reason to worry right now.

“Like the song says,” De La Cruz said, “Every [little] thing’s gonna be all right.”

De La Cruz has had a good few weeks. He entered Sunday’s series finale with the San Francisco Giants riding a 14-game hitting streak. That’s the longest streak of De La Cruz’s young MLB career and was the longest active streak in baseball entering the day.

Only three other players have had longer streaks this season: The Houston Astros’ Mauricio Dubon (20, from April 2 to April 26), the Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryson Stott (17, from March 30 to April 18) and the Boston Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida (16, from April 20 to May 7).

De La Cruz has been hitting.364 during this streak, which began on May 4. He also has five doubles and three triples. In addition, he scored nine runs, had nine RBI, and hit.364 in his 20 for 55. His on-base-plus-slugging mark is 1.015.

“It’s about consistency,” De La Cruz said Saturday. “It’s about being in the play with tranquility and serenity. Looking at the pitchers, looking at the pitches and doing the same thing — not trying to change things. If things are working, just keep it the same way.”

De La Cruz’s recent success follows an eight-game span in which he had a.069 average at the plate and was struck out 18 times in 30 plate appearances. One of the two hits that he got was when he attempted to double a single.

He didn’t let the mini rough patch faze him, though.

De La Cruz has shown flashes before of his potential, and he’s done so many times since the Marlins traded him to the Houston Astros for reliever Yimi Garcia at the 2021 deadline.

De La Cruz began Sunday’s game with a team-leading batting average of.291, only behind Luiz Araez (.387). His 10 doubles tie him with Arraez as the leader of the team. Jorge Soler’s 24 RBI is the only player with more than 18 RBI. He is third in home runs behind Soler (11) (and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (7).

“He’s still growing as a hitter,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “He’s a young hitter. He had an excellent second half of last year, and has so far had a great six weeks. I don’t think he’s done growing as a hitter. It could be even better than what you’re seeing so far. I don’t want to put numbers on what a guy’s capable of doing because it’s going to be ultimately up to the player, on his preparation and his work.”

Unearned defeat

The Marlins’ 1-0 win over the Giants on Sunday marked just the second time in franchise history the team won a game in which the only run scored was unearned.

Jon Berti’s eighth-inning single to right against San Francisco’s Taylor Rogers scored Garrett Hampson, who reached on a J.D. Davis was able to move from second to third on a sac bunt after committing a fielding error.

The Marlins also won a game 1-0 against the Atlanta Braves on September 24, 2001. Preston Wilson doubled to start the second game inning. Mike Lowell, the trail runner at the time, was struck out by Charles Johnson swinging. Braves catcher Javy Lopez’s throw to second base to try to catch Lowell went awry, allowing Wilson to score.

Marlins’ shutout victories this season are both 1-0. Before this year, the Marlins’ last 1-0 win was Aug. 5, 2020, at the Baltimore Orioles.

Jeff Conine part of Panthers’ pregame festitvities

Jeff Conine, known by many Marlins fans as Mr. Marlin and currently a special assistant to Marlins chairman and principal owner Bruce Sherman, will bang the ceremonial drum at FLA Live Arena ahead of Game 3 of the Florida Panthers’ Eastern Conference finals game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday.

The Panthers are 2-0 in the best-of-7 series Hurricanes defeated 3-2 in quadruple overtime on Thursday The following are some examples of how to get started: 2-1 in a single overtime on Saturday.

Previous post When will I feel old?
Next post Man City celebrates title glory after beating Chelsea. Leeds faces relegation.