Michael Cuddyer’s Hit Streak Comes To An End

It’s not like the Colorado Rockies have a deep lineup at the moment. On many nights Michael Cuddyer stands alone as a consistent threat to do damage. As such, I figured there would be an occasion sooner or later in which the Rockies found themselves in a close game late and their opponents opted to pitch around the silver-haired, smiley right fielder in favor of the more volatile Wilin Rosario or Todd Helton. I figured a lost opportunity like that, in a game in which he did not knock a hit in the early innings, would cost him his hitting streak.

The streak is over. Image: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

I was wrong. All it took was Clayton Kershaw.

Even in the friendly confines of Coors Field, where Kershaw has struggled in the past, Cuddyer was unable to continue his streak in an 8-0 loss last night. Because Kershaw went the distance it was four at-bats against the Cy Young winner and four outs. There is no shame in that, as they say. That ends the streak at a franchise best 27 games.

Here was Cuddyer’s message to fans today on Twitter:

For the record, I thoroughly enjoy the fact that Cuddyer’s avatar is him in the midst of a full-out dive for a fly ball.

So the hitting streak ends, but the importance of Cuddyer’s ability to continue to produce remains alive and well. On the offensive side of things, it is largely because of Cuddyer that the Rockies find themselves in the thick of the race in an admittedly putrid National League West.

That is what we should remember about this streak, and that is why Cuddy sure as heck better be a National League All-Star.