May 18th 2024.
When Luis Matos made his major league debut in June of last year, he quickly gained recognition and a devoted fan base. Dubbed "Matos Mania," the Venezuelan outfielder impressed with his hitting and scoring abilities, drawing comparisons to Giants legend Willie McCovey.
Now, almost a year later, Matos has grown both in age and physicality. With an extra 20 pounds of muscle, it's time for Matos 2.0. And in Saturday's game against the Rockies, he proved just how much he has improved.
With six RBIs in the Giants' 14-4 victory, Matos surpassed some of the franchise's most elite players. He now shares company with Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda, who held the record for most RBIs in a two-game stretch for a player 22 years or younger. Matos has also matched franchise records for most RBIs in two consecutive games, tying with Jack Clark and Bill Terry.
His manager, Bob Melvin, was amazed and appreciative of Matos' performance, exclaiming, "Man, that's a lot of RBIs!" Even Matos' teammate Matt Chapman was impressed, saying, "I'm just trying to get on base for him."
Matos' offensive contributions have been a game-changer for the Giants, who have now won three games in a row. This is a feat they had not achieved in their first 46 games of the season, making them the last team in the league to do so.
Facing the Rockies, who had won seven consecutive games, the Giants' bats came alive thanks to Matos and his fellow young players who have been given a chance to shine in the major leagues. Melvin noted that the team has been energized by these players and the positive atmosphere in the dugout.
In Saturday's game, Matos wasted no time in making an impact. In the first inning, he blasted a three-run home run, clearing the bases and giving the Giants an early lead. He continued to drive in runs throughout the game, with his teammates Chapman and Thairo Estrada also contributing to the scoring.
While Matos has been the standout, his teammates have also been making significant contributions. Jorge Soler, who recently returned from a right shoulder strain, had two RBI hits and had been struggling in that area before his injury. Chapman also had a stellar game, going 4-for-4 and scoring three runs.
Melvin, who has managed Chapman in the past, noted that he can be "a little streaky" but has been on fire lately, raising his batting average and OPS significantly.
The Giants' offensive outburst was also aided by their nine doubles in the game, a franchise record since moving to San Francisco. And while Matos has been the driving force behind the team's recent success, it's worth noting that he doesn't even lead the team in hits in the past two games. That honor belongs to Chapman.
In addition to the impressive offensive display, the Giants also made a roster move, claiming outfielder Ryan McKenna off waivers from the Orioles. And despite some injuries to key players, the team is hopeful with the progress of pitcher Blake Snell and the addition of McKenna.
Overall, the Giants have a lot to be proud of in their recent performance and hope to continue their winning streak in the series finale against the Rockies.
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