Christian Encarnacion-Strand Shines Against Diamondbacks in Return From Injury
STILLWATER – Two former Oklahoma State baseball standouts shined in their debuts over the weekend, one at the Major League level and the other at Double-A.
While it’s not his actual debut in the Majors, Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been on the injured list since April 17 with a back injury. He was finally activated on Friday and played a crucial role in the Cincinnati Reds’ sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
He hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the sixth inning on Friday night to keep the game alive, before the game was suspended due to weather. However, CES came back strong on Saturday morning, hitting a walk-off RBI to win the game, 4-3.
He led off game two with a three-run jack.
In the series sweep of the Diamondbacks, CES went 7-for-13 with three home runs. In just 10 games this season, CES is hitting .229 with 16 hits, five home runs and 11 RBIs. Now, if he can stay healthy, I expect his numbers to rise rapidly.
As for the second Cowboy, Roc Riggio, who plays in the New York Yankees organization, was called up to the Yankees’ Double-A team at Somerset a few days ago.
On the first pitch of his first at-bat on Sunday, Riggio hit a home run over the right field fence, before hitting a second home run, a two-run shot, in the top of the fifth inning.
In five games with the Patriots, Riggio has seven hits in 22 at-bats with four home runs. He also at an insane web gem on Sunday.
It’s always been fun to watch former Cowboy baseball players play at the next level, but it seems like a good time to watch.