It only took him 34 years, but Brandon Belt finally got his first big-league hit on his birthday.
OK, so that’s an unfair jab at The Captain, who played in six MLB games on his birthday before Wednesday. In his second at-bat against New York Mets right-hander Chris Bassitt, Belt blasted a second-deck shot to snap a career-long 0-for-20 cold streak on his birthday. The Giants ended up winning 5-2 behind another gem from southpaw Carlos Rodón.
Once Belt got back to the dugout, his Giants teammates greeted him with an off-tune ‘Happy Birthday’ serenade.
Awwww.
Of course Belt had some hilarious commentary to add after the game. While he was mic’d up with the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast, some Giants fans at Citi Field sang him ‘Happy Birthday’ once again.
“I’m not sure I’ve gotten a hit before on my birthday,” Belt said. “I think I actually got sent down on my birthday one time. So, this is definitely better than that one.”
Belt has been on fire to start this season, as he entered Thursday’s series finale against the Mets with a .282/.404/.615 slash line, four homers, eight RBI, eight walks and 11 strikeouts. He has also benefited from the implementation of the designated hitter rule, where he has made two starts and hit two of his dingers this season.
Despite baseball’s shortened spring training, Belt said he’s still been able to find a rhythm at the plate.
“I always struggle with timing early on in the season, I think most people do,” Belt said. “I don’t have to be perfect with timing to go out there and be productive. I know what approach works for me and I kinda just wait for the pitchers to miss a little bit. If they do, I think I can handle it. Thankfully, I’m doing something right now.”
Belt couldn’t have started off the season with a more epic entrance, as he rode atop a towed boat into Oracle Park on Opening Day. He’s kept up the good vibes throughout the Giants’ 8-5 start and now he finally has that birthday monkey off his back.
“It’s cool because you’re getting texts all day from people, some of ‘em you hadn’t heard in a while,” Belt said. “Just feels good to hear from people back home and to go out there and hit a homer is just kind of a cherry on top.”
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