D-backs’ Nick Ahmed blasts two home runs against San Francisco
Aug 4, 2018, 8:41 PM | Updated: 10:09 pm
Not once, but twice.
Shortstop Nick Ahmed continued his solid play Saturday night, roping two home runs in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 9-3 win over the San Francisco Giants and etching his name in the team’s record books in the process.
Looking at a 6-2 lead in the fifth inning, Ahmed got a hold of his first long ball of the night.
Crushed. Ahmed adds 2 more 2-out runs with a blast only Ziegler could catch in the @Dbacks bullpen. pic.twitter.com/1P3Pzj7rhE
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) August 5, 2018
“Just being consistent, just trying to keep it simple, just trying to see the ball and attack good pitches to hit,” Ahmed said after the game of his heightened play.
“I’m not trying to elevate the ball and hit it really high with a launch angle or anything like that, I’m just trying to square the ball up and hit the ball on a line drive through the middle of the field.”
With his two-run shot, Ahmed tied Stephen Drew (2010) for the third-most homers in a single season by a shortstop in franchise history with 15.
Drew holds the top spot as well, hitting 21 home runs for Arizona in 2008.
But Ahmed wasn’t letting the tie last for long.
Ahmed with his second career multi-homer game. Stay hot! pic.twitter.com/I7Qkf51ieT
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) August 5, 2018
Make that 9-2.
His very next at-bat in the eighth inning, the shortstop turned on another one and let it fly, taking over sole possession of the third spot in the team’s record books.
Ahmed’s stellar performance from the plate was just his second multi-home run game, with his first being in 2017.
“I’ve always known I had it in there, it’s just taken a little bit longer than some other guys to pull it out,” Ahmed said after the win. “I’m just putting myself in a good position to see the ball really well and use my athleticism and attack the pitches I want to swing at.”
He finished the night 3-3 with two homers, a single and four RBI. He was walked once.
With the 9-3 win, the D-backs are alone atop the NL West standings.
