Josh Naylor’s video game numbers give Cleveland Indians something to build upon in Wild Card Game 2 vs. Yankees
Josh Naylor #JoshNaylor
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Josh Naylor was asked if he had ever previously faced Gerrit Cole before going 3-for-3 including a double and a home run against the Yankees ace in Cleveland’s 12-3 loss Tuesday at Progressive Field.
“I faced him on ‘MLB: The Show’ a little bit,” Naylor joked. “I got locked in on that.”
Kidding aside, Naylor recognized that there is quite a bit more at stake right now than just video game pride after a hard-fought, albeit truncated regular season.
“These are do-or-die games and it’s win, or go home,” Naylor said. “I don’t really want to go home yet. I want to win. I want to be with this team for the whole ride. It was an unfortunate night tonight, but we’re going to bounce back.”
Naylor marked his playoff debut with a perfect 4-for-4 night, finishing a triple shy of the cycle and scoring two of Cleveland’s runs in a disappointing postseason opener. His solo home run in the fourth inning was his first in an Indians uniform, and he became just the second player to record multiple extra-base hits against Cole this season, joining Tampa’s Ji-Man Choi, who had two doubles on Aug. 8.
Indians acting manager Sandy Alomar Jr. said Naylor had a perfect approach against Cole.
“He was getting on top of the ball, he wasn’t dropping his barrel,” Alomar said. “There was no launch angle in that swing. It was a perfect swing for him. That was pretty impressive.”
Naylor said he hopes to carry over that same approach in Wednesday’s Game 2.
“(Cole was) throwing fuel out there,” Naylor said. “With a pitcher like him you have to bear down. You’re only really going to get one pitch to do damage with.”
Naylor stepped to the plate with the Indians trailing by 10 runs in the ninth inning, needing a triple to complete what would have been the first ever Indians cycle in a playoff game. After lacing a Luis Cessa slider into the right field corner, Naylor said he did not entertain a thought of rounding second and trying for third.
“I honestly didn’t even think about it,” Naylor said. “I was trying to have a good at-bat for the team and get on base and start a little rally. It didn’t cross my mind.”
While Cole was baffling Naylor’s teammates to the tune of 13 strikeouts in seven innings, the 23-year-old outfielder was more than ready for the challenge. He became the second player in Indians history to have an extra-base hit in the first two plate appearances of his postseason debut, joining catcher Steve O’Neil who doubled in both of his first two plate appearances in the 1920 World Series. O’Neil’s hits came against future Hall of Famer Rube Marquard, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Naylor is also just the fifth player in MLB history to go 4-for-4 in his playoff debut, joining AJ Pierzynski (2002), Johnny Damon (2001), Mel Ott (1933) and Frankie Frisch (1921). His four hits matched an Indians club record in a postseason game, accomplished previously by Juan Gonzalez and Omar Vizquel in 2001, Manny Ramirez in 1995 and Vic Wertz in 1954.
His nine total bases were one shy of Ramirez’s club record for a playoff game set in Game 2 of the 1995 ALCS against Seattle. But in the end, Naylor’s playoff debut resulted in a loss. Something he’d like to avoid repeating Wednesday.
“It’s a game of failing and we were on that end tonight and that’s OK,” Naylor said. “We’re going to come back out there tomorrow and try to be the best players we’re going to be.”
New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.
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