Jake McCarthy broke through at the plate Wednesday, going 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in the Rockies' 10-5 loss to the Mets.
The homer was McCarthy's first of the season, a needed swing for a player who has quietly put together a steady stretch at the plate. He is 10-for-27 over his last 10 games, a.370 clip, and is batting.262 with a.784 OPS this season. Through 77 plate appearances, McCarthy has nine RBI, seven runs scored, six stolen bases, five doubles and two triples.
That production matters because McCarthy is filling the strong side of a platoon in center field for Colorado, giving the Rockies a bat that has started to warm while the season is still taking shape. The longer view is encouraging, but the friction remains in the gap between his overall numbers and the fact that Wednesday was only the first time he has left the yard this year.
For Colorado, McCarthy's recent run is the kind of contribution that can keep him in the lineup and give the Rockies another useful option in center as they sort out the rest of the order.
