Tucker to petition for 30th homer, 30-30 season

October 2nd, 2023

PHOENIX -- thought he had reached 30 homers Sunday. Then he didn’t. Then he did. Ultimately, Tucker’s fifth-inning jaunt around the bases in the Astros’ 8-1 win over the D-backs on Sunday was scored a triple and a fielder’s choice, leaving Tucker just shy of a 30-homer, 30-steal season.

Tucker said Sunday he plans to petition Major League Baseball to have the hit changed to an inside-the-park home run, which would give him 30 homers and 30 steals. It’s not uncommon for players to petition the league to have errors changed to hits. If he’s successful, he would join Jeff Bagwell as the only players in Astros franchise history to have 30-30 seasons.

“I mean, if it’s a triple right now, then yeah I am [going to petition],” he said.

The All-Star outfielder, who finished with an American League-best 112 RBIs, hit a ball over the head of D-backs right fielder Jake McCarthy, who initially started charging the ball. Tucker easily made it to third base, but as he approached third, he noticed D-backs shortstop Jordan Lawlar holding the ball in shallow right field. Tucker raced for home and scored easily as Lawlar inexplicably lobbed the ball to the pitcher.

The play was initially scored a triple and an error, but soon changed to a triple and a fielder’s choice. Moments later, it was ruled a home run. Finally, the official scorer announced it was a triple and a fielder’s choice.

“I knew I needed one more homer, so basically when it went over his head, and I knew I was getting to second, I said, ‘I’m going to third’ and I might as well try for the homer,” Tucker said. “I was probably going to have one, maybe two more at-bats to try to do it. I might as well take a chance.”

When talking to reporters after the game, Tucker said the last thing he knew was that it was a homer, but the box score showed a triple. Tucker did have two more tries, doubling to right field in the seventh inning and lining out to left field in the ninth to finish 2-for-4. 

His 112 RBIs are the most by an Astros player since Alex Bregman had 112 in 2019, and he joins Lance Berkman (128 RBIs in 2002) and Bagwell (116 in 1994) as the only Astros players to lead a league in RBIs.

“We have a lot of guys on base in front of me,” Tucker said. “That’s a huge kudos to them. They’ve done a phenomenal job getting base hits and drawing walks and stuff like that. I wouldn’t even be in this position without them being on base.”