Marsh plates three on three-hit night
With one hit -- and five strikeouts -- in his last 11 at-bats, Brandon Marsh was scuffling heading into Friday's game.The Angels' third-ranked prospect regained his stroke with a 3-for-5 night, doubling twice and driving in a season-high three runs, as Double-A Mobile thumped Pensacola, 8-2, at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
With one hit -- and five strikeouts -- in his last 11 at-bats,
The Angels' third-ranked prospect regained his stroke with a 3-for-5 night, doubling twice and driving in a season-high three runs, as Double-A Mobile thumped Pensacola, 8-2, at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
Marsh struck out looking to lead off the game against right-hander
Coming off a four-strikeout game Thursday against Jackson, the left-handed-swinging outfielder credited his teammates with helping jump-start his night.
"It was tough -- my last five AB's were K's," he said. "I try to flush it after each at-bat. It's tough being in the moment. You just have to go to the plate each time with no expectations. I learned that from just being around the veterans in Spring Training.
"What got me going was the other guys, they sparked it. In the third, [Poppen] got a heater up, a two-seamer, and I just tried to match the plane and barrel up the ball."
Gameday box score
After grounding out to end the fifth, the 2016 second-round pick laced an RBI single to left off left-handed reliever
"There isn't a better feeling, going back to the box after putting the barrel on the ball and getting out of a hole," he said. "I was seeing the ball well today. There was no practice, no BP -- just show-and-go."
Facing right-hander
Marsh noted his approach at the plate has changed this year after he hit .266/.359/.408 with 10 homers, seven triples, 27 doubles and 85 runs scored in 127 games between Class A Burlington and Class A Advanced Inland Empire.
"I'm more aggressive in the zone. In years prior, I've had a lot of takes in the zone," he said. "My biggest adjustment in the box is swinging at pitches I can do some damage with. It also depends on the situation and the guy on the bump. Anything belt-high -- slider, changeup, heater -- if they put it there, I'm going to put my best swing on it."
Friday was the Buford, Georgia, native's seventh multi-hit game of the season and first with two extra-base hits. He boosted his slash line to .261/.356/.330.
"A lot of guys struggle," Marsh said. "I let my drill work and cage work, the repetitions, take the lead. It's cliche, but if I can get 1 percent better every day ... I'll put myself in a good position in the box. If it looks juicy, I let the drill work take over."
Justus was 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored.
Twins No. 2 prospect
Duane Cross is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @DuaneCrossMiLB.