Inside job: Dodgers' Sweeney hits HR trifecta
The beauty of baseball is it affords even the best of the best an opportunity to do something unique. For Trey Sweeney, that came in the second inning on Wednesday night at Isotopes Park. The Dodgers' No. 21 prospect kicked off a career-best performance with something he hadn't done since
The beauty of baseball is it affords even the best of the best an opportunity to do something unique. For Trey Sweeney, that came in the second inning on Wednesday night at Isotopes Park.
The Dodgers' No. 21 prospect kicked off a career-best performance with something he hadn't done since his Little League days, and the evening only got better from there. A second-inning inside-the-park home run was the first of three roundtrippers on the evening for Sweeney, whose four hits and five RBIs led Triple-A Oklahoma City to a 6-1 win over Albuquerque.
The three jacks marked the first multihomer game as a professional for Sweeney, who had to take a trip back in time to his youth in Louisville, Ky., to recall his first inside-the-parker.
"Yeah, it's been a long time since I hit one of those," Sweeney said.
The lefty-swinging shortstop's 409-foot drive off the center-field wall eluded a leaping Sam Hilliard (Rockies) and caromed toward right field, enabling Sweeney to race around the bases and score without a throw. The 6-foot-3, 212-pounder wasn't sure he got enough of it to get over Hilliard's head, but he didn't take any chances.
"When I first hit it, I knew I got a hold of it good," Sweeney explained. "But I also thought he might track it down. Center field here is a long ways away [428 feet]. I was hitting second when I noticed it kicked away and sort of rolled into no-man's land and that's when I realized I had a good shot at [the inside-the-park home run]."
Sweeney's second jack was more traditional. The 2021 20th overall pick by the Yankees smoked a 420-foot drive over the wall in left-center field for a two-run homer in his next at-bat in the fourth. A single in the sixth set him up for one final chance at the homer trifecta, which he wasted no time in accomplishing with a first-pitch tater to center.
Sweeney went the more traditional route for his second jack, which came in his next at-bat in the fourth when he smoked a 420-foot drive over the left-center-field wall for a two-run homer. A single in the sixth set him up for one final chance at the homer trifecta, which he wasted no time in accomplishing with a first-pitch tater over to center.
"I'd be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind, but no, I wasn't trying to hit one out there," Sweeney said. "In that situation, I was just trying to have a good at-bat and barrel one up. I was able to lift it and sort of let the elevation here do its thing to help me."
📩 CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO BEN'S BIZ
Sweeney's four hits and five RBIs both equaled career highs and continued a scorching stretch for the 24-year-old, who has left the yard five times since last Friday, a span of four games and 14 at-bats. He entered that game with two long balls in his previous 44 games and 185 at-bats.
"Just making some small adjustments," Sweeney said about his recent uptick. "I was missing a lot of hittable pitches early on and swinging at pitches I should not have been. I just wasn't seeing the ball really well. It's all about finding something you're confident and comfortable with and I've done that recently."
Michael Avallone is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @MavalloneMiLB.
Bisons erupt for 12-1 victory over Worcester on Thursday night
Buffalo, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bisons scored early and often, putting Thursday night’s game against the Worcester Red Sox out of reach on their way to an 12-1 victory at Sahlen Field. The Bisons scored their 12 runs on 13 hits for their first victory of the series The Bisons
Bisons offer 4 FREE Armed Forces Day Game Tickets to all Veterans/Active Duty Servicemembers (Saturday, May 17)
The Buffalo Bisons today announced that they have partnered with the 914th Air Refueling Wing, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York to honor, pay tribute and celebrate our brave servicemembers at the team’s Armed Forces Day Game, Saturday, May 17 vs. the Worcester Red Sox at Sahlen Field (1:05
First Pitch on Lockdown! Bills' Christian Benford has the honors before May 16th Bisons game
GET MY TICKETS The Buffalo Bisons today announced that the Buffalo Bills’ CB1, cornerback CHRISTIAN BENFORD, will throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Herd game against the Worcester Red Sox on Friday, May 16 at Sahlen Field (6:05 p.m.). GET MY TICKETS Along with celebrating Benford’s contract extension
Bisons doubled up by Worcester 8-4 on Wednesday night
Buffalo, N.Y. – A big inning for the Worcester Red Sox in the top of the fifth inning was the difference in their 8-4 victory over the Buffalo Bisons on Wednesday night at Sahlen Field. The Bisons were able to get on the scoreboard right away in the bottom of
Conversations with the Herd: Bisons Outfielder Joey Loperfido
Bisons outfielder Joey Loperfido was born in Philadelphia and grew up across the Delaware River in Haddonfield, New Jersey. He grew up watching the great Philadelphia Phillies teams of the early 2000s and was nine years old when his local heroes won a world championship, an event that had a
Homestand Highlights: Bisons host the Red Sox through May 18
GET MY TICKETS The Bisons are finally back in Buffalo and the Herd can’t wait to welcome fans back to Sahlen Field for a six-game homestand against the Worcester Red Sox this week, starting on Tuesday, May 13 (6:05 p.m.). Following their longest roadtrip of the season, the Bisons take
The 'Luces de Buffalo' return in 2025! Three-game schedule starts with 'Cinco de Mayo' fridaynightbash! on May 16
GET MY LUCES DE BUFFALO TICKETS The Buffalo Bisons are excited to announce that they will once again take the field as ‘Luces de Buffalo,’ their Copa de la Diversión™ alternate identity, for three home games this season, starting with their contest on Friday, May 16 against the Worcester Red
Bisons partner with Sahlen's, Watkins Glen International for a 'Race Night' Honda fridaynightbash! on May 30
GET MY RACE NIGHT 'BASH TICKETS Boogity, Boogity Boogity… let’s go racing! The Bisons have announced they have teamed up with Sahlen’s and Watkins Glen International for a special ‘Race Night’ Honda fridaynightbash!® on Friday, May 30 as the Herd hosts the Charlotte Knights at Sahlen Field (6:35 p.m. |
Bisons continue tradition of 'At Par' Pricing Discount on Single-Game Tickets for Canadian Fans, increased to 30% Off through May 31
LINK: DETAILS ON HOW TO GET AT-PAR PRICING The Buffalo Bisons organization greatly appreciates the amazing baseball fans of Southern Ontario who have become a part of our Herd, and to continue to welcome all fans to Sahlen Field, the team will continue their tradition of providing Canadian Fans an
Buffalo Civic Auto Ramps offers $6 Parking in Adam Parking Ramp for most Bisons games at Sahlen Field
PARKING AROUND SAHLEN FIELD As baseball fans prepare for Bisons Opening Day on Friday, March 28 and to head into downtown Buffalo for the 2025 baseball season at Sahlen Field, a great parking option available to them is the Buffalo Civic Auto Ramp’s Adam Ramp, which will offer $6 Flat
Bisons announce overhaul of Sahlen Field’s Sound System, greatly enhancing ballpark fan experience for 2025 season
The Buffalo Bisons today announced that the team is completely overhauling the sound system at Sahlen Field, a project that will greatly enhance the overall fan enjoyment of Bisons baseball and non-game day events at the Herd’s downtown ballpark. The project, which is being completed by Capstream Technologies, LLC of