Yelich must like seeing red.
Christian Yelich hit for the cycle for the third time in his career on Wednesday, becoming the fifth player in MLB history to accomplish the rare feat three times. He joins Trea Turner, Adrian Beltre, Babe Herman and Bob Meusel on that list. But Yelich also accomplished something that none of those four were able to. He did it against the same team each and every time.
They say lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot. Well, this was more unlikely than that. Players have hit for the cycle against the same team twice before — two of Turner’s were against the Rockies — but never three times. Hell, most players never hit for the cycle at all.
This is absolutely just some fluke coincidence, but it’s still a cool piece of history for Yelich. And probably something the Cincinnati Reds would have preferred not to be a part of.
Yelich’s first two cycles against the Reds came just a few weeks apart in his 2018 MVP season. On Wednesday, he got his day started with a ground-rule double in the first inning, then hit a three-run homer in the third and singled in the seventh. His triple in the ninth to complete the cycle was part of a valiant effort by the Brewers to dig out of nine-run hole in the final frame. They ended up losing 14-11, but Yelich at least gave the team something to celebrate.
His 4-for-5 day also gave him the highest batting average of the five players to hit three cycles. Yelich was a perfect 10-for-10 in his previous two cycles. At 14-for-15 (.933) in the three games, he’s well above Adrian Beltre’s .867 and Trea Turner’s .800. His 12 RBI in those games fall second to Meusel’s 13.
It’s been a rough last few years for Yelich, but if this is a sign of things to come, the NL Central-leading Brewers are going to be a lot more scary come October.
