Jackson Holliday has faced a few tough batting slumps during his rookie season, but he’s proven he can come through in key moments.
Holliday hit a three-run double as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning, helping the Baltimore Orioles secure a 3-2 win over Houston on Saturday. The 20-year-old infielder had been struggling, going 0-for-20 before he drove a line drive to right-center field with the bases loaded.
“I’ve been here before,” said Holliday, who had a tough start to his big league career earlier this season, going 2 for 34 before being sent back to the minors.
“Obviously it’s not great, but that experience the first time is helpful. Not really thinking too much about it. I’ve hit some balls hard, just haven’t had great luck.”
The Orioles created their own luck on Saturday. Colton Cowser, another rookie who batted right before Holliday, ran hard to beat out a soft grounder to first base, loading the bases with two outs and the Orioles down 2-0.
Cowser slid headfirst to avoid a possible collision with first baseman Jon Singleton.
“It’s kind of an unconventional thing to do — you’re not really taught to do that,” Cowser said. “Just instincts kind of take over.”
The Orioles are now just a half-game behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East. However, their recent performance has been mixed, with a record of 27-30 in their last 57 games due to several pitching injuries. Last season, on their way to 101 wins, the Orioles had 48 comeback victories, the most in the major leagues.
