Giants slugger Pablo Sandoval blasted three HRs Wednesday night during a 13-5 drubbing of the Padres.
Hitting three HRs in one game is nothing new for the Kung Fu Panda. He did the same thing the first game of the 2012 World Series. Two of those shots came against AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.
That performance was on the sport’s biggest stage and earned Sandoval World Series MVP honors.
On wednesday night Sandoval did it in Petco Park in San Diego. He just couldn’t wait for the playoffs this year. The Giants sit in 4th place in the NL West and have no chance of making it.
Pablo Sandoval’s three HR night netted him six RBIs. He now has 71 on the season. Hunter Pence leads the team with 72. Reigning NL MVP Buster Posey has been getting a lot of rest lately in an attempt to keep his surgically repaired ankle fresh for next season.
The night is bright spot in an otherwise rough season for the Giant’s slugger. He spent a number of weeks on the disabled list after injuring his foot. The injury was likely weight related, a problem that has cost him money. If Sandoval could keep his weight under control he could be a 30 HR and 100+ RBI hitter. If that was the case he could be looking at a similar contract to Buster Posey .
Instead he has never hit more than 90 RBIs in one season. That was his rookie year in 2009. This season is the first year since then he has hit more than 70. After the 2010 season San Francisco threatened to send Sandoval back to the minors if he didn’t get in shape.
Despite the losing season, Giants beat writer Henry Schulman found humor in the night:
Interesting: The only player before Sandoval to homer three times in a game at Petco was Ryan Braun, on April 30, 2012. #sfgiants .
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) September 5, 2013
Which he quickly followed with:
Hey, if Braun says he was clean in 2012, that’s good enough for me.
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) September 5, 2013
So far no one is pointing a finger at Pablo Sandoval for steroids . In fact, since Braun hit three HRs at Petco Park, the stadium fences have been brought in.
All joking aside, it’s not easy for any hitter to blast three HRs in one game. Pablo Sandoval’s night should be seen as a high for the Giants and their fans in an otherwise disappointing season. Also, the last time San Francisco missed the playoffs, they won the World Series the next season.