CINCINNATI -- Kyle Manzardo needed a moment like this. None of us could have predicted how it came to pass.
Mired in a deep slump offensively, Manzardo belted his first career grand slam on Tuesday, in Game 1 of the Guardians’ doubleheader against the Reds. And funny enough, it couldn’t have happened without a successful challenge by Cincinnati that forced his at-bat to continue.
You read that correctly.
Manzardo came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning. The 25-year-old was down 1-2 in the count to Reds starter Chase Burns, who fired a 98.8 mph four-seamer up and in. It appeared to hit Manzardo on his right hand, and home-plate umpire Alfonso Márquez ruled as such.
Manzardo took first base while Steven Kwan came in from third to give the Guardians a 1-0 lead. It was short lived. Reds manager Terry Francona challenged the hit by pitch call and successfully got it overturned. Manzardo was called back to the batter’s box, where a 2-2 count awaited him.
Manzardo fouled off a slider from Burns, who then threw him another. Manzardo hit it a Statcast-projected 369 feet over the right-field wall at Great American Ball Park. It landed on the netting above Cleveland’s bullpen, in which Guardians relievers ecstatically celebrated up against the fence.
Manzardo entered Tuesday with just one home run over this month, on Wednesday against the Twins. Over 20 games, he had gone 8-for-62 with five walks and 23 strikeouts, which amounted to a .129/.206/.210 slash line.
The recent returns of José Ramírez and Angel Martínez from the injured list were welcomed boosts for the Guardians’ lineup. But their lineup desperately needs Manzardo to find his way and get back to being a force in the middle of the order.
Perhaps Tuesday's slam, unforeseen as it was, will prove to be a step in that direction.