After K-less streak ends, Gurriel exits with knee discomfort
First baseman hopeful he'll be in Astros' lineup for Game 6 of World Series
Bryan Hoch
@BryanHochPHILADELPHIA -- Yuli Gurriel exited early from the Astros¡¯ 3-2 win over the Phillies in Thursday¡¯s Game 5 of the World Series, having experienced right knee discomfort following a seventh-inning rundown play. But the veteran first baseman hopes to return to the lineup for Game 6 on Saturday, when Houston seeks the second championship in franchise history.
¡°That¡¯s the goal right now,¡± Gurriel said through an interpreter. ¡°Right now, I feel some pain, but I have hope that Saturday, I¡¯ll be able to play.¡±
Gurriel¡¯s night ended prematurely after he was tagged awkwardly by Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins on a fielder¡¯s choice. Gurriel was replaced at first base by Trey Mancini, who made a terrific defensive play to rob Kyle Schwarber of an eighth-inning hit.
The injury followed the end of Gurriel¡¯s impressive string of 48 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout this postseason, which ended in the fourth inning when he fanned against Connor Brogdon.
¡°I think the adrenaline of October gives you some extra oomph,¡± Gurriel said. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to take advantage of it.¡±
Gurriel¡¯s K-less stretch tied Tim Foli (1979 Pirates) and Gurriel¡¯s previous performance with the ¡¯19 Astros for the fourth-longest such streak. Joey Cora had 51 postseason plate appearances without a strikeout for the 1995 Mariners, David Eckstein had 50 with the 2006 Cardinals and Juan Pierre had 49 for the 2003 Marlins.
¡°Contact is huge in the World Series,¡± Astros manager Dusty Baker said after Game 4. ¡°I have faith in Yuli because Yuli's been on the world stage even before he got here. You're on the world stage in Cuba; anybody that's ever been to Cuba, you¡¯ve got to play to eat.¡±
Houston¡¯s skipper was on that select list, too. Gurriel passed Baker¡¯s string of 46 plate appearances without a strikeout for the 1981 Dodgers in Game 4.
This fall, Gurriel has also set a record for most career World Series hits by a Cuban-born player (27). Gurriel surpassed Hall of Famer Tony P¨¦rez (23) with a second-inning single in Houston¡¯s Game 3 loss.
P¨¦rez played in four World Series (1970, ¡¯72, ¡¯75 and ¡¯76) with the Reds and one with the Phillies (¡®83), collecting 23 hits in 27 games. Gurriel is playing in his fourth World Series (2017, ¡¯19, ¡¯21 and ¡¯22) and has played 25 Fall Classic games.