A loud out can be a pushy motivator. After Trevor Story ripped a line drive to the left side in the fourth inning Sunday, only to have it swept up by Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer, the Rockies’ second-year slugger grew eager.
“It’s not always fun when you get hits taken away from you,” Story said. “But it kind of gives you a boost for the next at-bat. And it was a good at-bat, the next one.”
Two innings later, Story blasted another hit in the same direction, only higher and farther. His two-run shot into the left-field bleachers was, at 420 feet, the Rockies’ longest home run in a fourth inning filled with them.