For as diminutive in stature as Padres second baseman David Eckstein is, the guy has a somewhat surprising amount of power. Eckstein hit eight homers in 2002 with the Angels and eight in 2005 with the Cardinals, knocking in more than 60 runs each season. On Monday night, the 5’7″ second baseman put a crooked number up under his HR column for the first time all season. He did it in grand fashion, blasting a game-winning walkoff solo home run to lead off the bottom of the 10th for the Padres against the Giants.
Eckstein’s dinger came off Jeremy Affeldt and it went straight down the left field line and off the Western Metal Supply building: “That was the only part of the park I can hit it out of,” Eckstein said. Eckstein turned on the pitch for the game-winner which put the Padres over .500 (they’re 7-6) for the first time since last May 27th. By now you’re probably wondering how Pablo Sandoval fits into the picture. Well, the 250-pounder with the career slugging percentage of .542 drove a ball to deep left field in the top of the 10th but it was caught at the wall — a typical Petco Park out. Hence, on this night, David Eckstein was greater than Pablo Sandoval who could only muster up warning track power.
Sources
Eckstein homers in 10th for Padres’ win [AP recap]
Photo Credit: AP via Gaslamp Ball
