Watch: Matt Mervis Hits Another HR, Adds Game-Tying Double
I hope you’re not getting tired of hearing about Matt Mervis yet because the first baseman keeps making loud noises. He launched another homer Friday night in Columbus, his second in as many games and eighth overall with Iowa, then added a game-tying double in the 9th.
We cannot confirm that this ball has landed yet…Mash Mervis for the second night in a row goes deep against the Clippers! pic.twitter.com/ElZZIGg3v7
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) September 3, 2022
While we now know him as Mash, my son and I were calling him Never Nervous Mervis when we visited the Smokies back in June because it seemed as though nothing rattled him. That calm demeanor was on display with the I-Cubs trailing 6-5 and down to their last strike. Mervis laced a low-and-in offering just inside first base and into the right field corner to score Jackson Frazier and tie the game.
He does it all! Matt Mervis is your @EMCInsurance Player of the Game with his solo home run and this game-tying double in the ninth. pic.twitter.com/P7k0Bapmaa
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) September 3, 2022
Mervis then came around to score on a John Hicks single to put Iowa up a run, after which a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Trent Giambrone drove in two with a single to hang a four-spot in the frame and carry the visitors to victory.
Mash now has 37 doubles, 29 homers, and 104 RBI across three levels of the system this season and is a lock to be named the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year. I’m still not entirely sure what is keeping him in Triple-A — I know why the Cubs are doing it, I just don’t know why the Cubs are doing it — but I can’t imagine he’ll be back in Iowa next season.