MIAMI – When he stepped to the plate in what was then the biggest at-bat of the game on Tuesday night, Miami Marlins pinch-hitter Ichiro Suzuki took two pitches out of the strike zone before shooting a single into left, driving in two runs.
When Diamondbacks slugger Yasmany Tomas stepped to the plate with two runners on base an inning later, he swung wildly at a first-pitch slider, the beginning of an at-bat that would end with a strikeout.
While discussing his club’s miserable results when hitting in key situations so far this season, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale highlighted the at-bats as examples of what to do and what not to do with runners in scoring position.