By Ed Diokno
Addison Russell had quite a night in Game 6 of the 2016 World Series. He drove in six runs — including a Grand Slam — to help beat the Cleveland Indians 9-3 to force a Game 7.
The six RBIs put Russell into some elite company. Only three other players ever drove in six-runs in a World Series game: Bobby Richardson (1960 Yankees), Hideki Matsui (2009 Yankees) and Albert Pujols (2011).
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Besides being the only Asian American player to hit a Grand Slam in a World Series game, Russell also garnered a few other records:
He’s the first Filipino American to hit a grand slam in a World Series or in any post-season baseball game; the first player to have that many RBIs in the first three innings of a game; at 22-years of age, he’s also the youngest hitter with six RBIs in any postseason game; Russell is the second-youngest batter to hit one in the World Series, bettered only by 21-year-old Mickey Mantle for the 1953 Yankees against the Dodgers.
“That’s pretty cool,” Russell said in learning of his Game 6 accomplishments. He wasn’t satisfied, though. “Tomorrow there is obviously and opportunity to break that record.”
Up to this game, the post-season hasn’t been kind to Russell. But for someone so young, he is mature beyond his years.
“The key to that at-bat was to not swing at the first two pitches,” said Manager Joe Maddon. “That’s what we’ve been talking about the whole time. I mean, if you get over-eager right there, you’re not going to put that sinker in play, it’s a ground ball to third base, inning over, none of this happens.”
Game 7, which will decide the best team in baseball for 2016, will be played Wednesday (Oct. 2) in Cleveland.
“It’s just no panic,” Russell said in the locker room after the game. “It’s a lifestyle. We’re here to have some fun. We’re here to win some ballgames. We’re going to pick some teammates up. That’s just our game. That’s how we’ve played all year.”
Can’t get enough? Here’s all six of Russell’s record-tying World Series RBIs.
Ed Diokno writes a blog :Views From The Edge: news and analysis from an Asian American perspective.
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