LeMahieu all about team goals, not batting title

DENVER — If Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu’s plate appearances, which double as clinics in situational hitting, fly under the radar, it’s time to recalibrate the device.

LeMahieu drew a first-inning walk, went 2-for-4 and scored two runs in the Rockies’ 5-3 loss to the Cardinals on Monday at Coors Field. The fact he struck out with one on during an unsuccessful comeback attempt in the ninth inning qualifies as news, the way LeMahieu has been performing.

LeMahieu has reached in 35 straight games. His night left his batting average at .349, which leads the National League by one point over the Nationals’ Daniel Murphy.

LeMahieu is better measured by the mission and accomplishment.

For example, on Monday, Cards starter Carlos Martinez was finding the strike zone and his breath — he needed oxygen at one point — in Denver’s atmosphere when LeMahieu patiently walked on a full-count curveball. With the Rockies down, 2-1, in the third and just needing a baserunner, LeMahieu singled into center and would score on Nolan Arenado’s two-out single.

The examples come almost daily.

During a …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com