Simple approach is working for Brewers' Jackson Chourio during hot stretch
· Yahoo Sports
The Jackson Chourio hot streak continues with yet another home run, but this time he might have gotten a bit of an assist from a teammate.
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With the Milwaukee Brewers leading 5-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, June 17, Chourio rocked a two-run home run.
It was Chourio’s ninth home run in the last 17 games and boosted his RBI total to 24 RBI in that span.
It padded Milwaukee's lead and doused any ideas the Guardians might have had for a comeback, as the Brewers won 9-4 to claim their 45th victory of the season.
But what might get overlooked is that David Hamilton might have had a role in helping set it up. Milwaukee’s third baseman, who bats ninth, took to the plate and hit a tapper to the very shallow infield. It could have been an easy out, but Hamilton ran furiously to first base, beating the play.
And then, with Christian Yelich at bat after him, Hamilton stole second base.
Chourio may have benefitted from Hamilton’s efforts, which could have thrown off the pitcher just a little.
“What happens is when you put pressure on the pitcher from a different standpoint, from a baserunning standpoint … either he becomes more aware of the baserunner and what he can do, or the havoc he can cause,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “And sometimes, sometimes – you don't know for sure – that creates a lack of execution by the pitcher. And then that helps the hitter.”
Chourio entered the box and sent the first pitch from Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams out to right field.
“Any time Hamilton is able to get on base, that’s a point in our favor,” Chourio said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “He’s got the ability to steal a base, he’s got the ability to take extra bases on any of our hits.
“There’s so many different things that he can do to help us on the basepaths. On the pitcher side of things, he’s got to have divided attention. His attention is half on Hamilton on the bases, and half on [me]. It certainly has an impact on the game, whenever he’s on base.”
Chourio is a young star on a roster that's blooming with other young stars, such as right-hander Jacob Misiorowski and now shorstop Cooper Pratt. His walk up to the plate draws anticipation from everyone in the stadium, but he isn't a big fan of studying his analytic numbers when it comes to batting.
“No, I’m someone who is very simple,” Chourio said. “When I go out there, I’m not thinking about too much. I’m just thinking about going up there and hitting the ball hard. I like to know what pitches the guy has and then I like to keep it simple.”
So, then, there wasn't anything special or satisfying to him about blasting the first pitch on that particular at-bat.
“In this situation, this is a guy that I’ve seen before” Chourio said. “So there’s a little more comfortability there. I’d seen that pitch. I had a feeling that he was going to throw that pitch there to me.”
Chourio continues to validate the Brewers' conservative approach to get him fully healthy for the season. After injuring his hand in a World Baseball Classic exhibition game, he surprisingly went on the injured list before opening day in March. He sat out for about a month to heal, but mentally it renewed Chourio as well.
"I really feel great; health-wise, most importantly, I feel great," Chourio said. "And just with a lot of desire. A lot of desire to keep pushing forward."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Simple approach at plate working for Brewers' Jackson Chourio