Mariners CF Dee Gordon surprised as anyone with his 2-homer game
Mar 9, 2018, 4:09 PM
Dee Gordon hit not one but two home runs in the Mariners’ 10-7 wind-aided loss to the Giants in Scottsdale on Friday. The owner of 11 home runs in seven major league seasons was as surprised as anyone that two made it over the fence, giving him three in Cactus League play this year.
“I got lucky. I got lucky. I got lucky,” he said with a smile before any questions were asked.
“I got lucky,” he replied when finally asked. “I got lucky, that’s it.”
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Gordon said that this was the first time in his life he ever hit two home runs in a game. While it was clearly fun for him and his teammates got a kick out of it, spring is about work, and Gordon’s focus is the transition to the outfield.
“Each day I get a little more comfortable,” he said. “Getting some throws in every day now, I’m just trying to get ready for March 28.”
Gordon listed nearly every teammate when asked who has helped him with the transition. The entire experience has been an extremely positive one for him.
“They are making it very easy on me,” he said. “They are letting me be myself. They have a lot of confidence in me, and that’s big for me. I’m not a big guy so for the organization and teammates to have so much confidence in my game, that’s pretty eye-opening, a pretty awesome feeling for myself.”
Also eye-opening for Gordon, the power of Nelson Cruz. Three batters after Gordon hit his first home run of the game, Cruz clubbed his first of the spring.
While there were pop flies that carried Friday, Cruz’s bomb was a no-doubter over the left-center field wall.
“Nellie Cruz can rake,” said Gordon. “That ball was eye-level all the way over the fence. That was dope.”
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