Yuli Gurriel warms to Game 1, homer sinks Red Sox
BOSTON – Yuli Gurriel could barely feel his hands as the American League Championship Series started Saturday night at Fenway Park. With the temperature at 50 degrees, the Astros’ Cuban slugger struggled to warm up as the first pitch for Game 1 was thrown.
His hands were stiff, and so were his legs. Everybody knows that cold weather isn’t good for piñas, whether the tropical fruit variety or the Astros first baseman nicknamed piña because of his distinctive hair style that looks like the top of a pineapple.
The temperature never got higher than 50 degrees during Game 1 of the ALCS, but Gurriel definitely warmed up. His three-run home run over the short porch in right field capped the Astros’ scoring in the 7-2 victory over the Red Sox.
Mind over matter
“From the start it was very difficult,” Gurriel said after going 1-for-5 Saturday. “The cold, everybody knows that where I come from in Cuba it’s not common. Whenever there’s cold, I suffer a lot. It’s not common for me to play in cold weather, and that’s why things don’t go well.
“The start of the game went badly for me. I practically couldn’t even feel the bat. Then as the game went on I adapted, and thank God the home run came at the end.”
Gurriel struck out to end the top of the first while struggling to grip the bat. He popped out to the second baseman two innings later.
He reached on an error by third baseman Eduardo Nuñez in the sixth and then stranded two runners in the seventh when he hit a fielder’s choice grounder to short.
“Things hadn’t been going well at the start,” he said. “In the previous at-bat (in the seventh) I tried to drive a run in to try to salvage the day, but I couldn’t. Then I had one final opportunity. I tried to drive in a run. Three came in, and that’s much better.”
Warmed Up
Heading into the top of the ninth, Gurriel was 0-for-4 in Game 1 of the best-of-seven ALCS and only 2-for-15 (.133) this postseason with no home run or RBI.
His bat was as cold as the weather, and it was rather uncomfortable physically and mentally.
“I felt very bad,” he said. “Truly, I was very uncomfortable. The first at-bat I practically never made the adjustment. I even felt stiff not just with the hands, but even my legs.
“Then in the dugout I was able to warm up my hands and then I was able to get better as the game went on.”
Gurriel, who hit 13 home runs with 85 RBI over 136 regular season games this year, found his stroke in the top of the ninth with the Astros ahead 4-2 and two men on.
He pounced on Brandon Workman’s offering for a three-run home run, giving the Astros some extra cushion while also helping him breathe a little easier.
“This gives me more confidence,” he said. “Truly, I didn’t feel very comfortable in the batter’s box. To hit this home run makes me a bit more comfortable, clearly.”
Equally important, the defending World Series champion Astros are guaranteed at least a split against the AL East champions before the ALCS heads to Houston for Games 3 and 4 and 5 if necessary.
The Astros will try to take a 2-0 lead with Gerrit Cole on the mound in Game 2 Sunday against David Price at Fenway Park in what could be the Red Sox’s last home game.
“With a victory here now we’re going home with three games (at Minute Maid Park after Game 2),” Gurriel said. “And there are many more possibilities. I think this first victory was very important.”
Featured Image: Billie Weiss / Boston Red Sox