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Statcast of the Day: Gyorko’s HR saves Cards
- Updated: October 2, 2016
ST. LOUIS — Jedd Gyorko’s home run in the eighth inning Saturday that gave the Cardinals the 4-3 win over the Pirates almost didn’t happen.
Gyorko took on a 2-2 pitch from Felipe Rivero that was called ball three, an 82-mph slider, according to Statcast™. Both Rivero and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said they thought it was strike three. Gyorko was just elated to stay alive.
“It was a good pitch,” Gyorko said. “I probably didn’t swing at it because I knew I couldn’t hit it, and that’s what it comes down to.”
Three pitches later, the Cardinals second baseman swung at the ninth pitch of the at-bat, and it landed just over the wall in right field. Gyorko had fouled off five previous pitches from Rivero that were clocked at either 99 or 100 mph, so he knew what to expect by the time the fateful pitch was thrown.
Gyorko’s big fly was noteworthy for several reasons. At 100.23 mph, Rivero’s pitch to Gyorko was the third-fastest pitch hit for a home run this season. Only Kurt Suzuki, who homered on a 102.37-mph pitch thrown by Aroldis Chapman, and Coco Crisp, who took a 100.35-mph pitch from Matt Bush over the fence, have hit home runs on faster pitches in 2016.
Furthermore, batted balls previously hit with a similar exit …
