DeJong's HR knocks out M in Big Mac Land sign
ST. LOUIS -- Paul DeJong did an extra bit of damage with his sixth-inning homer off Brewers reliever Devin Williams in the Cardinals’ 3-0 win over the Brewers on Monday.
The blast blew out the "M" in the lit-up "Big Mac" sign that hangs from the façade of the left-field second deck at Busch Stadium. The ball came to rest inside the foot of the letter, which is part of an advertisement that pays homage to the majestic blasts that St. Louis used to so often see from slugger Mark McGwire.
The homer, which left DeJong’s bat with an exit velocity of 104.6 mph per Statcast, was his third in his last six games and 22nd this season. The franchise record for home runs by a shortstop is 25, established by DeJong in 2017. His current pace has him tracking to surpass that.
“I think I have some power and the ability to drive the ball out of the park, but that’s not always my intention,” DeJong said. “It’s more the result of getting a good pitch to hit and having my natural ability take over.”
The homer, which gave the Cardinals a three-run cushion, came a half-inning after DeJong had preserved starter Dakota Hudson’s no-hit bid with a sliding stop of a ball that seemed headed up the middle for a hit. He recovered in time to make the throw to first and retire Trent Grisham for the second out of the inning.