Yelich returning to form after awful start
CHICAGO — One thing’s certain: Young Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich is definitely not allergic to ivy.
Yelich continued his resurgence Friday afternoon with a first-inning homer off Cubs starter Jason Hammel. He has now hit safely in all seven of his career games at venerable Wrigley Field, going15 of 41for a .365 batting average that includes three homers.
Actually, Yelich is torching everyone of late, as he extended his hitting streak to six games (10-for-18/.555). After batting .220 in April and May, he batted .298 in June, and since May 25 has raised his average to .253 from .196.
“It sucks to get off to a start like that,’’ said Yelich, 23, who had back issues in the first month. “It had nothing to do with the injury. … I was playing terribly at the beginning of the year, that’s no secret. You just have to keep climbing and keep trying to stick it out.
“You think what you have to do on this at-bat, and hopefully at the end of the year when you look up you are where you want to be. I got back to being the player I want to be.’’
And the player to whom the Marlins shelled out nearly $50 million over the next seven years after as a rookie he batted .284 with 30 doubles, nine homers, 21 steals and 54 RBI.
Although Yelich said his slow start had nothing to do with the contract, the socalled sophomore jinx or where he bats in the lineup, Marlins manager Dan Jennings said moving him to third in the order before recently settling in at No. 2 sparked him.
“It really started there, his focus and concentration,’’ Jennings said. “He started drawing more base on balls, not chasing some pitches. Some of that could’ve been the fact he was the leadoff hitter last year and he was working the counts and losing some pitches he would be driving.
“[He started] utilizing line to line and working counts and getting on base. It has been very good for him and for us.’’
All five of Yelich’s homers this season have come on the road, as have 16 of his 18 career round-trippers.
Jose for DH?
Marlins ace Jose Fernandez will make his next start Thursday at home against the Reds, a week after his victorious return.
After the All-Star break, Jennings said, he will go back to a five-man rotation. Jennings and Fernandez said the right-hander had no ill effects from his 90-pitch outing, and the manager joked that he may DH him in Boston next week after he clocked a homer Thursday.
“I got lucky. I swung and the ball hit the bat; I don’t think the bat hit the ball,’’ Fernandez joked. “It was a fun moment.’’ …
Sidelined right-hander Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) will make his first rehab start next week.
Morse close
First baseman Mike Morse, who has been out since May 26 with a finger injury, tweaked his back recently, so he made a rehab start for Single-A Jupiter on Friday.
If all goes well, Jennings said he could meet the team this weekend in Chicago. However, with first baseman Justin Bour belting four homers in the past four games, Jennings said it’s quite possible that Morse could start some games in the outfield.