David Peralta’s ‘secret’ helps him reach marks set by Gonzo, Goldschmidt
Aug 8, 2018, 5:19 PM | Updated: 6:36 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta (6) celebrates after hitting an RBI triple against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta had 10 hits in three games against the Phillies.
He also had a secret weapon.
“It’s a little secret, but the cooking from my wife, she’s cooking really well, and I’ve got my cousin,” Peralta said. “From Venezuela, first time here in the United States. So I guess he’s my lucky thing.”
We’ll keep our voices down if you keep Cousin Jonathan around. Peralta is quietly keeping up with the best hitters in Diamondbacks franchise history.
With that said, this homestand was a noisier declaration.
Peralta had three games with four hits over the last two series, giving him six such games for the season, a number matched only by New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton.
His six games with four-plus hits this season is the most for any player in D-back history, eclipsing first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s 2013 mark.
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But tomorrow, Jonathan is going home.
“I’m like, ‘OK, you gotta stay here,'” Peralta said. “I’m a really superstitious guy.”
Peralta missed the first two games of the homestand due to right shoulder tightness. He insisted he was OK to pinch-hit June 30 against the Rangers, but manager Torey Lovullo kept him out for two games.
If he had known about the impact of Jonathan, maybe Lovullo would have let him.
Over the last two series, Peralta leapt ahead of Diamondback great Luis Gonzalez for career four-plus hit games (Gonzalez had 11) and tied Goldschmidt with 13.
The current D-backs left fielder is tied with Gonzalez for most hits in a three-game series in franchise history. Peralta rattled 10 off against the Phillies, including two home runs, one of which tied the game in the ninth inning Monday and the other was a walkoff in extra innings.
This series against the Phillies, in which Peralta went 10-for-16, increasing his homestand batting average to .545.
After the trade for infielder Eduardo Escobar, Peralta said he was excited to have another Venezuelan in the clubhouse.
Maybe bringing in a third one really was a lucky charm.
“His wife is waiting for him in Venezuela, but I’m going to talk to her and say, ‘Hey, you know what, I think you just have to come here, stay here for a little bit, until the season’s over,'” he said. “‘Until we win the World Series.'”
