After a dismal 2-10 start to the 2011 season, the daunting task of climbing back to .500 began. With an underachieving offense through the first 40 games, newly acquired slugger Adrian Gonzalez stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth on that rainy May night with Jacoby Ellsbury on second and Dustin Pedroia on first.
Despite his team's lackluster start, Gonzalez had already settled in as the top hitter for the Sox. May 16, however, he fully arrived.
Jumping all over the first pitch from Kevin Gregg of the Baltimore Orioles, Gonzalez lifted one to left field, scraping off the Green Monster. His first walk-off hit in a Red Sox uniform gave Boston its fourth win in a row after a weekend sweep of the New York Yankees.
More importantly, the Red Sox were over .500 (21-20) for the first time of the season.
Since the emotional walk-off hit from Gonzalez, the Red Sox are 7-2 and have scored a combined 28 runs in their last two wins.
Gonzalez has been solid all season and shows no signs of slowing down. His ability to hit the ball to all parts of the ballpark is amazing to watch, and Fenway seems to be a perfect fit for that inside-out swing.
Through 50 games this season, the first basemen leads all of MLB with 44 RBIs. His batting average of .337 is remarkably high, given his 208 at-bats. Others with high averages, such as Jose Bautista and Michael Young, are hitting .342 in 142 ABs and .340 in 188 ABs, respectively.
Given the percentage of ABs to batting average, Gonzalez's number could end up higher, as the ABs even out among the players.
While on pace to lead in both categories, Gonzalez's long ball total could be the preventing factor. Gonzalez trails league-leader Bautista (19) by 10.
However, the more comfortable Gonzalez gets with his new home ballpark, his home run total could start to increase more rapidly. After all, in a stadium built nearly 100 years ago, it seems to have been built for Gonzalez.
Carl Yastrzemski was the last to achieve the monumental feat in 1967 for the Red Sox. With a few more long balls, the talk of a Triple Crown champion returning to Boston will certainly heat up.
Close Calls
Albert Pujols (2009) — 48 HRs (First), .342 BA (Second), 135 RBIs (Third)
Alex Rodriguez (2005) — 48 HRs(First), .321 BA (Second), 130 RBIs (Fourth)
Will Adrian Gonzalez be the first to win a triple crown since Carl Yastrzemski did it for the Red Sox in 1967?
Will Adrian Gonzalez in the Triple Crown batting title in 2011?Market Research
