Piscotty's early HR inks name in club history

CHICAGO -- The fact that Stephen Piscotty struck out against Hector Rondon as the final batter for the Cardinals in their elimination from the postseason on Tuesday took nothing away from what the rookie accomplished in October.

Two batters into the game, Piscotty slugged a two-run home run off of Jason Hammel. But the night belonged to the Cubs, who claimed Game 4 and the National League Division Series with a 6-4 win.

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"It was a good start to the game. Two runs though, I didn't think that would be enough. We knew we needed more," Piscotty said.

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After a leadoff single by Matt Carpenter, Piscotty jumped on a first-pitch fastball and drove his homer to center field. According to Statcast™, it came off the bat at 109 mph and landed a projected 407 feet away.

It was the hardest-hit homer of his short career. His previous high exit velocity was 106.5 mph off of the Brewers' Jeremy Jeffress.

Piscotty, 24, went 1-for-4 on Tuesday and finished the series 6-for-16 (.375) with three home runs and six RBIs. The homers tied a franchise record for rookies that is co-owned by Kolten Wong in 2014 and Willie McGee in 1982. The six RBIs were the most by a Cardinals rookie in a Division Series, surpassing Pete Kozma's five RBIs in the 2012 NLDS vs. the Nationals.

The long ball by Piscotty also extended the new postseason record of rookies homering in the postseason -- his homer raised the tally to 13.

Only Charlie Keller (1939 World Series for the Yankees) and Piscotty stand as rookies to hit three home runs in their first four career postseason games.

"It was a lot of fun," Piscotty said. "I got a taste of it now and I just want more and more of it. It sucks to be on this end of it. We'll regroup and get after it next year."