Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
Josh Reddick did not have a good time in his sole at-bat in Game 3.
Up 2-0 in the series, the Houston Astros were looking to sweep the Oakland A’s in Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday. The A’s were able to stave off elimination with a big 9-7 win, and Houston’s frustration shone through in Josh Reddick’s lone at-bat.
In the eighth inning, Reddick was pinch hitting for Martin Maldonado with runners on second and third base. Athletics pitcher Liam Hendriks struck him out swinging to end the inning, preserving Oakland’s 9-7 lead.
The Astros right fielder was none too pleased with himself, slamming his bat straight into the ground. When even that wasn’t good enough to appease him, Reddick snapped the bat in two pieces over his knee like that golfer friend who takes it way too seriously when they send their ball straight into the lake:
Josh Reddick couldn’t come up big for the Astros in Game 3
Imagine you’re Reddick, and Dusty Baker sends you to the plate to pinch hit late in a closeout game with two runners on. The tying run is at the plate, and it’s you! All you have to do is put the ball in play and the game could be tied.
And then you shamelessly strike out on a fastball right down the middle, leaving those game-tying runs stranded on base.
That was Josh Reddick’s unfortunate reality on Wednesday, so is it any wonder he decided to vent his anger on the bat that apparently betrayed him?
Houston still has a 2-1 lead in the series, but here’s hoping Reddick — who was batting .133 with 4 strikeouts in 15 at-bats this postseason before Wednesday’s Game 3 — won’t have such an disastrous experience at the plate next time around.