Prince Fielder, with one swing of the bat, cured any concerns over his lack of the long ball so far this season as he ended the second-longest drought to start a season of his career on Tuesday night with a no-doubter to left-center field late in the Rangers' 7-1 win over Arizona.
Fielder, who entered the game as the Rangers' best hitter this season had been getting key hits and RBIs, but had not really done much other than hit singles, with a couple of doubles mixed in. Fielder's on-base percentage is sky-high, and his strikeout rate is low. He's just feeling it right now.
It showed on Tuesday night, as he hit an RBI double earlier in the night to finish the game with three RBIs, but he didn't put a whole lot of stock into the fact that he hit his first career homer.
"Just trying to get them in and get a pitch I can drive," Fielder told reporters after the game. "It's fine, as long as I get the runs in."
Even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it publicly, you know the lack of power had to have been eating at Fielder, who hadn't homered in nearly a full calendar year. His swing is obviously back, as he's been raking all year, and now that he's gotten that first long ball in, don't be surprised if the flood gates open up now.
