HOUSTON — Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager is the victim of what amounts to a solar eclipse.
Robinson Cano continues to hog attention because of a 18-for-35 surge over eight games in May, which lifted his average from .226 to .305. He also has three doubles, four homers and nine RBI in that time.
“He’s incredible,” Seager observed. “He’s incredible anyway, and when he gets in a groove like this he’s unbelievable. There’s not too many people that can do what he’s doing.”
The thing is, Seager might be one of those people. He is 16-for-37 stretch over the last nine games in boosting his average from .139 to .233. He has four doubles, two triples, three homers and nine RBI in that span.
“I feel pretty good,” Seager admitted. “I’m able to stay more in the middle of the field. Not pulling off nearly as bad. You’re giving yourself a chance on balls that are middle of the way as opposed to only having one area you can handle.”
For his part, Cano pointed to hitting coach Edgar Martinez as the key to the club’s improving attack, which entered Sunday ranked second among American League teams with an average of 4.47 runs a game.
“We’ve got to give credit to Edgar,” said Cano, who hit a home run Sunday that accounted for the Mariners’ only run in a 5-1 loss to Houston. “He’s amazing with all the positive things he says to everyone.
“He was one of the best hitters in any situation. And that’s a guy you can go and ask questions to. He’s been so big for us.”
The Astros are delighted they won’t see Cano again until July. By then, they hope, he’ll have cooled down.
“The rest of the league can have him for a month or however long it is until we play him,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. “When we gets locked in like this, it’s a tall task.”
Cano has a 13-game hitting streak against Houston, dating to last season, and is 14-for-30 this season through seven games with five homers and 17 RBI.
“He’s just one of those guys,” Houston ace Dallas Keuchel said, “where you make a quality major-league pitch and, if he’s on a hot streak, he’s going to hit it. It’s almost like you’ve purposely got to throw him balls.”
Cano hit two homers Saturday, including a game-winner to the opposite field in the 10th inning against lefty reliever Tony Sipp in a 3-2 victory.
“You feel comfortable with him up to bat with nobody on,” Hinch said, “and then he goes oppo to end the game.”
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