Aquino HR #6 – Kyle Hendricks Tried Another Sinker

by — August 29, 2019 in Hitting Analysis

Aristides Aquino’s Timeline of Punishment

 

  1. First Major League Homer
  2. Obliteration
  3. Hardest Hit
  4. The (First) One Off Yu Darvish
  5. Start of a Huge Day
  6. Kyle Hendricks Tried Another Sinker
  7. Farthest Hit
  8. “A Loud Sound”
  9. Out of the Strike Zone
  10. Adam Wainwright Turned to Look Way Up
  11. “You Can’t Stop This Kid!”

[The sixth in a series looking at Aristides Aquino’s historic home run streak. Yes, we understand this goes on as long as Aquino keeps hitting record-setting home runs and that might be a while. We’re prepared (and hopeful) for this to last through the end of the season.]

[Photo: https://twitter.com/Reds/status/1160381187971588096]

Home Run #6

In the 2nd inning, Aristides Aquino had homered his previous plate appearance. Because the Reds sent seven batters to the plate that inning, Aquino next stepped to the plate against Kyle Hendricks (29, RHP) just one inning later.

As mentioned, Hendricks has been one of the Cubs best starters since 2016 when he finished third in the Cy Young voting. He entered this game with a 3.06 ERA, having allowed only 14 homers in 126.2 IP. This was not a good day for him.

Hendricks is known for his sinker. That’s the pitch (1897 rpm spin rate) Aquino had hit out down the left field line the previous inning. That ball traveled 344 feet and barely made it out of Great American Ball Park. That would not be the case for what happened next.

Here is the graphic display.

[Graphic: Baseball Savant]

The Pitch

Aquino had homered off Hendricks first pitch — a sinker — the previous at bat. Hendricks tried the same thing in the 3rd inning and Aquino was ready. The pitch (1889 rpm spin rate) arrived right in the heart of the plate. Again, Aquino with his open stance got a great look with the extra time afforded by the 86-mph velocity of the pitch.

The Hit

Bases were empty. Aquino was batting 5th after Josh VanMeter. Unlike his home run the previous inning, Aquino has it timed right and gets all of this Hendricks sinker. The ball traveled 385 feet on a low, 25º launch angle trajectory. It was hit 97 mph exit velocity. (click on the picture to see the video)

Bases were empty with two outs when Aquino hit his 6th home run. It ignited a Reds rally that produced 3 more runs and ended Hendricks’ day.

The Game

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Aquino’s homer produced .061 WPA (win probability added). The Reds were en route to a 10-1 win, setting up a dramatic game on Sunday. But Aquino wasn’t done with Saturday.

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Steve Mancuso

Steve Mancuso is a lifelong Reds fan who grew up during the Big Red Machine era. He’s been writing about the Reds for more than ten years. Steve’s fondest memories about the Reds include attending a couple 1975 World Series games, being at Homer Bailey’s second no-hitter and going nuts for Jay Bruce at Clinchmas. Steve was also at all three games of the 2012 NLDS, but it’s too soon to talk about that.

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