Scott Schebler looked like he was about to get fitted for a Golden Sombrero in his first start for the Cincinnati Reds.
Schebler had already whiffed three straight times before finding himself at-bat in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded, one out and the Reds trailing the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1.
Schebler was facing the Phillies’ version of a closer in Dalier Hinojosa. He took a change-up for the first strike of his at-bat then missed a 94 mph fastball for the second strike.
On a 2-2 count, Schebler connected on a 94 mph fastball on the outer half of the plate. The ball sailed toward the left center gap, cutting into a strong wing blowing from right field.
The only question was whether or not the wind would knock the ball down enough for the Phillies’ converging outfielders to reach it before it hit the warning track.
The ball landed then ricocheted off the wall. Schebler notched a walk-off double in his first start with the Reds. This feat was on the heels of his pinch-hit chopper of a double in the Reds’ season opener that sparked a come-from-behind win in the eighth inning.
Reds’ star Joey Votto had found himself in a similar situation in that game as Schebler did Wednesday. Votto had struck out three times before he hit a game-winning, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Reds to their comeback win.
As for Schebler, he was part of the return the Reds received from the Todd Frazier trade. So far, Schebler is showing he might be able to deliver the goods from time to time to help soften the loss of the team’s face of the franchise in Frazier.
Schebler is sharing time with Adam Duvall in left field for the Reds. He’s staking an early claim to be the Reds’ right fielder of the future once current right fielder Jay Bruce departs.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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