Crawford finds his comfort zone hitting second in order
TRENTON » Rashad Crawford had no doubt he was going to make the catch as a line drive hit by Richmond’s Ryan Lollis began dipping toward the grass in center field.
Crawford got a great jump and slid his glove, full extension, just underneath the ball before it dropped for a base hit.
Game over. Crawford’s catch sealed an 8-2 victory, one in which he also went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, for the Thunder on Thursday night.
“That’s probably my favorite part of the game,” Crawford said. “It’s one of those things that you have control over — the effort plays. You can make things happen and that’s what I try to do to help my pitchers and my teammates.”
Crawford was one of three minor league players, along with Gleyber Torres and Bill McKinney, acquired from the Cubs in the Aroldis Chapman trade last summer, and he made his Double-A debut when the Yankees assigned him to the Thunder at the beginning of the season.
Yet just now has Crawford, 23, begun to find his comfort zone. He batted .175 through the first 18 games before a DL stint shelved him for three weeks.
Since returning Crawford has slowly but surely found his footing, upping his average to .232 following Thursday’s 2-for-4 performance.
“I’m taking my time, trying to find good pitches to hit,” Crawford said. “I don’t want to be so aggressive, just be patient and let it come to me.”
Manager Bobby Mitchell moved Crawford into the No. 2 spot in the lineup on Thursday behind Jorge Mateo, who arrived on Tuesday from High-A, in an effort to jump start the offense.
It paid off for one night at least.
Crawford saw more fastballs since the speedy Mateo — he stole 29 bases at Tampa — got aboard three times. Crawford ended up driving Mateo in three times.
“It’s one of my favorite spots,” Crawford said. “Throughout my career, I’ve had success hitting No. 2.”
Mitchell seems willing to use that lineup again since it allows him to put Mike Ford back in the No. 4 spot where he’s most comfortable.
“I thought he’d see more fastballs with Mateo getting on in front of him,” Mitchell said. “He has that in him where he can hit hard line drives. When he’s hitting line drives what like he was … we need him. The top of the lineup needs his speed to be a catalyst.”
Also credit Mateo for getting on base because despite the high stolen base total at Tampa, he only posted a .288 OBP and walked 16 times in 69 games. In three games with the Thunder, he’s already worked five walks and scored four runs.
“The pitchers focus on him more and then it might help me out because I get more fastballs when I’m ahead in the count,” Crawford said. “It helps that he can score from second with east. Just get it to the outfield and RBI.”