Wes Long doesn’t think about hitting streaks. In fact, the Goldeyes shortstop looks at hitting much more simply – one at-bat at a time.
Yesterday afternoon, however, it was his second trip to the plate that made the difference. With Vince Harrison and Josh Asanovich on base, Long belted a three-run homer to give Winnipeg a 5-0 advantage in the second inning. It not only kept a 10-game hitting streak alive, it also gave the Goldeyes enough runs to win their 10th game of the year.
With starter Chris Salamida pitching well (one run on five hits over seven full innings) and with Bobby Korecky shutting the door in the ninth (it was Korecky’s first save since joining the Goldeyes last week), the Fish overcame a shaky bullpen to hold on and beat the Schaumburg Flyers 5-4. With the victory, the Goldeyes improved to 10-7 and won a three game set with the Flyers at Canwest Park.
"I’m not thinking about any streak – unless it’s 40 games, that would be different," Long said with a laugh. "Right now I’m just trying to go up there every time and get a hit. I’m been doing pretty good just trying to swing at good pitches.
"I’m trying to separate every at bat and to concentrate on every pitch, each time I go up to the plate."
Whatever the plan, it’s working. Long went one-for-three with a walk, two runs scored and three driven in during yesterday’s win and even so, he watched his batting average dip a little to a still-awesome .388. He remains the Northern League leader in hitting and is among the league leaders in RBI (13), runs scored (11), doubles (7) and slugging percentage (.582). Pretty good for a middle infielder who bats in the leadoff spot.
And yet, Long isn’t satisfied. After missing the second half of last season with a broken ankle, the 27-year-old (he turns 28 this Saturday) from Seattle will admit he’s not yet at 100 per cent.
"My defence hasn’t been as good as it should be," Long said. "My footwork isn’t where it should be and I‘ve thrown the ball away a few times. I have to improve on that. I’m not close to the top level yet. I still have stuff to work on."
At 10-7, the Goldeyes are third in the Northern League, a game and a half back of first-place Kansas City. And it’s the T-Bones who come to town Monday night to start a four-game series at Canwest Park.
Photo: Shawn Coates
No comments:
Post a Comment