Ian Kinsler redefined "taking one for the team" on Wednesday night.
While we usually think of that adage in Rudi Stein terms when it comes to being hit by a pitch, the Texas Rangers second baseman didn't receive the benefit of reaching first base after apparently being hit in his, uh, l'il Lone Stars by Houston Astros pitcher Brett Myers.
Instead, Kinsler had to resume his at-bat after unsuccessfully arguing that he was not in the process of trying to bunt. It wasn't a bad continuation: Four pitches later, Kinsler hammered a Myers pitch into the left-field stands for his second home run of the game and the decisive run in a 3-2 victory at Minute Maid Park.
Here's the hit by pitch (ouch!)... and here's the homer
"We won the game by one run, so I'll take it. He got the call right," Kinsler said of the play where he was hit before breaking into a huge smile.
In the end, Washington was also glad home plate umpire Bob Davidson called it a strike.
"He said the strike supersedes the hit by the pitch and it worked in our favor because he ended up getting us another run," Washington said.
It was the eighth multi-home run game of Kinsler's career and first since 2009. No truth to the rumor that he was also credited with a sacrifice bunt just before the second blast.
