D-backs first baseman Paul Goldschmidt continues to deliver late
Jun 8, 2013, 7:04 PM | Updated: Jun 9, 2013, 5:54 am
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt has done it all so far in 2013.
The 25-year-old leads the National League in RBI (58) and Wins Above Replacement (3.7), is second in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.004) and ranks in the top 5 in home runs (15), doubles (17), slugging percentage (.599), on-base percentage (.405) and hits (74).
But what’s made Goldschmidt’s campaign so impressive through 62 games is the timing of his production.
Friday night’s game-winning, three-run home run in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants marked the fourth time this year the D-backs first baseman has hit a go-ahead blast in the eighth inning or later. The next closest player in that category is the Atlanta Braves’ Evan Gattis with two.
Arguably more remarkable is that all four home runs have come in the last 32 days.
May 7, 2013 – Two-run shot off Brandon League in D-backs’ 5-3 win over the Dodgers
May 8, 2013 – Solo shot off Kenley Jansen in D-backs’ 3-2 win over the Dodgers
June 1, 2013 – Grand slam off Carlos Marmol in D-backs’ 12-4 win over the Cubs
June 7, 2013 – Three-run shot off Jeremy Affeldt in D-backs’ 3-1 win over the Giants
