DUDA NO DUD
Ex-Met Lucas homers again for Rays
If there is pressure to produce when you get traded before the deadline to a contender, Lucas Duda certainly isn’t feeling it.
Two days after he was dealt from the Mets to the Rays, Duda thrust what became a 5-4 Yankees win into jeopardy in the eighth inning Saturday at the Stadium. Leading off against David Robertson, he hit a long home run to right field that landed in the second deck and knotted the score 4-4.
“Duda’s hit was impressive,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “I haven’t seen a ball ever go that far here.”
“It’s fun to be playing meaningful baseball in August and September and I feel like we have a solid shot of making it with this group of guys,” Duda said. “It’s all about winning at this stage of the season. I’d rather have gone 0-for-4 with four punch-outs and have won the game.”
Duda also hit a home run in his first game with Tampa Bay on Friday night after arriving from San Diego on a red-eye flight, accounting for the only Rays run as they lost 6-1. But Saturday’s performance was especially good. In addition to the homer, Duda drew a pair of walks and hit a sacrifice fly for a 2-1 lead in the third.
The Yankees are getting a look at something that might have been as well. They were interested in Duda, but didn’t offer enough to make the deal. And Duda is showing that he has a swing and hitting style that would have played well at the Stadium.
Duda seems to like playing meaningful games.
“It certainly seems he likes it. He’s done a really good job and given us a lot of good at-bats,” Cash said. “The home run was very impressive, but the at-bat off the lefty [starter Caleb Smith] for the sac fly was just as impressive. He was behind and he found a way to get the ball deep enough for the sac fly.”
Duda said there is an inherent pressure to being the player acquired by a contender. He said that he has handled that pressure by ignoring it and focusing on blending in and getting to know his new teammates.
“It’s true for every trade acquisition — we’re here to contribute and that’s expected,” Duda said. “For me it’s been no change ... go about my business and fit in.”
Cash said many of the players the Rays have brought in have some prior experience with being traded. He wasn’t sure how Duda — who only had been a Met — would adjust but “he is giving great at-bats and he looks very comfortable.”