Murphy knows mom will enjoy his 4-hit day
Indians outfielder finds success on Mother's Day using pink bat
CLEVELAND -- David Murphy exchanged a few text messages with his mom on Sunday morning before suiting up for the Indians in their Mother's Day tilt with the Twins. Then, the veteran outfielder went out and collected four hits in Cleveland's win.
That made the deal a little more special.
"That's very nice," Murphy said with a smile after the Tribe's 8-2 victory. "I'll give her a call probably on the way home. It's fun for her when I'm successful, period. But it does make it a little sweeter on Mother's Day."
Each Mother's Day, more and more players are donning pink gear and using pink bats, honoring their moms and also doing their part in raising awareness for the fight against breast cancer. During Cleveland's win, six members of the lineup used the pink lumber, and that group combined to go 13-for-26 with four extra-base hits, six runs and eight RBIs.
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis had planned on using the pink bat only once, but that plan changed when he doubled in his first trip to the plate.
"I didn't want to change too much," said Kipnis, who also hit an RBI triple with the bat in the fourth as part of a three-hit game. "But, after I got a hit, I thought I'd give it another one."
Will Kipnis be using the bat again in the Tribe's next game?
"I will not be," he said with a laugh.
Video: MIN@CLE: Kipnis blasts triple to put Indians on top
Murphy, who went 4-or-4, likes how Major League Baseball has embraced raising awareness on Mother's Day every season.
"I know a lot of people have been affected by breast cancer," Murphy said. "Obviously, Major League Baseball is a pretty thriving industry. Whether it's through TV or through radio or through Twitter, it's something that gets a lot of notoriety. So, any time Major League Baseball can support something like breast cancer, hopefully we can raise support and raise awareness."
Indians manager Terry Francona lost his mom, Roberta, to breast cancer several years ago.
"I lost my mom a long time ago, so it gives me a chance to reflect, which I appreciate," Francona said. "But then, it also gives me a chance to celebrate. I've got a daughter that's now a first-time Mother's Day recipient. So, that's a pretty cool thing. In our game of baseball, more often than not, the mom is usually the mom and the dad."