A couple of former UF standouts made their mark Saturday for their Major League Baseball teams.
Seattle catcher Mike Zunino hit a ball 463 feet for a three-run homer to straightaway center.
Zunino’s three RBIs gave him 22 in June, a team record for catchers in a month. Dan Wilson held the club record with 21 in April 1996. Zunino is hitting .325 with seven homers since being recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on May 22.
“‘Z’ is a on a great run,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “He continues to make good adjustments in games. He’s really trusting himself.”
For Boston, Austin Maddox retired all three batters he faced for a scoreless seventh inning in a 7-1 loss to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.
“My main focus was to come in, pound the zone and attack hitters like I’ve always done,” Maddox, who relieved Rick Porcello and sent down Marwin Gonzalez, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, said to MLB.com. “It’s always nice to put up zeros no matter where you’re at.”
Maddox, 26, was promoted to Boston’s roster on Wednesday from Triple-A Pawtucket in place of former UF teammate Brian Johnson, who was placed on the DL
“Very good,” Boston manager John Farrell told MLB.com about Maddox. “Good power, showed some tilt to his slider. You watched the body language and the mound presence and he embraced the moment. This is a young guy that’s been on the come this year … Very quick, very solid inning through the heart of their order.”
