Peña hits trio of homers, including walk-off
Jeremy Peña put together a home run smorgasbord for the Sugar Land Skeeters on Tuesday night.
The Astros’ No. 4 prospect collected three homers -- including a walk-off, two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning to defeat the Albuquerque Isotopes, 8-7.
Although three-homer nights are rare, Peña’s special night had a unique twist. After he blasted an opposite-field shot in the third inning, Peña’s home run in the fifth was of the inside-the-park variety.
He drove a pitch off the center-field wall and raced around the bases as the ball rolled back toward left field, away from everyone. He scored with ease.
That solo homer gave the Skeeters a one-run lead before the Isotopes climbed back in front by a run in the eighth. Then, with two outs and a runner on in the bottom of the ninth, Peña completed his masterpiece with his third homer -- and his sixth in his past seven games -- as he crushed a no-doubter to center.
Peña is considered the best defensive player in Houston’s system, but the 24-year-old shortstop has put on quite a display at the plate this season. His eight home runs in 20 games with the Skeeters match his homer total from his previous 152 Minor League games. The 2018 third-round Draft pick is slashing .343/.405/.638 across 105 at-bats split between Triple-A and the Florida Complex League.