The Giancarlo Stanton Yankees era is off to a rough start.
The slugger went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts in the Yankees’ 11-4 win over the Rays on April 3, and heard boos from the fans at Yankee Stadium (yes, he was booed by Yankees fans… in the home opener!).
Well, he heard the boos again on Sunday, when he struck out five times, again. Stanton went 0-for-7 with five strikeouts and left nine men on base. And the final strikeout came on the final pitch of the game, when Orioles closer Brad Brach blew Stanton away with a fastball in the 12th inning of an 8-7 Baltimore win.
(That strikeout came after Aaron Judge hit into the incredibly rare 1-2-5 double play with the bases loaded and no outs.)
RECAP: This one had it all, including a game-saving 1-2-5 double play. O’s come from behind to beat the Yankees and take the series. #Birdland
More: https://t.co/zJd90jCYDD pic.twitter.com/aVpl65v6UR
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) April 8, 2018
Strikeouts are generally overrated, but Stanton’s striking out at a 41.7% rate right now, which is an alarming number (even this early in the season). And it’s magnified when his overall numbers are poor as well: a .167/.271/.427 slash line.
Stanton was outstanding last season with the Marlins, cranking 59 homers and putting together a .281/.376/.631 slash line. His strikeout rate was also a career-best at just 23.6%. He didn’t even strike out four times in a game last season, and he’s already struck out five times twice this season.
Giancarlo Stanton had his second 5-strikeout game in 6 days.
He didn't have a 4-strikeout game all of last season. pic.twitter.com/me4KNiqxf2
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 8, 2018
He had never even struck out five times in a game before this season.
Giancarlo Stanton had never struck out five times in a game in his entire career before this season. It's April 8th and he's already done it twice this season, this time to lose the game for the Yankees. Absolutely hate to see that.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 8, 2018
And he’s the first player in the live ball era to have two five-strikeout games with zero hits.
Giancarlo Stanton is the first player in the live ball era to have 2 games with 0 hits and 5 strikeouts in the same season.
It's April 8th. pic.twitter.com/TBy91mpYcJ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 8, 2018
Better days are certainly ahead for Stanton and he’s going to hit a lot of dingers without question. But to be anything like the overall hitter he was last year, he’ll have to cut down quite a bit on the strikeouts.
