Twins DH Jose Miranda sets a club record with hits in 10 consecutive batting appearances

Jose Miranda, designated hitter of the Minnesota Twins set a team record on Friday night with hits in 10 consecutive batting appearances.

Miranda surpassed the Twins’ record of nine consecutive hits, set by Tony Oliva in 1967 and matched by Mickey Hatcher in 1985 and Todd Walker in 1998. Oliva still spends time with Twins players throughout the season, which Miranda said gives the accomplishment special meaning.

“I talk to him a lot. It means a lot to me,” Miranda said. “You know, he’s a Hall of Famer, so it’s pretty cool to break a Hall of Famer’s record, I guess.”

The major league record for most consecutive hits is 12, set by Walt Dropo of Detroit (1952), Pinky Higgins of Boston (1938) and Johnny Kling of the Chicago Cubs (1902).

Miranda, 26, entered Friday night’s game against the Houston Astros – a 13-12 loss – with hits in six consecutive attempts at the plate and had a hit in each of his four appearances before being replaced by a pinch hitter in the ninth inning.

“I’m going to come out on the field tomorrow, do my work in the cage, prepare for the game, prepare for the pitcher I’m facing tomorrow,” Miranda said. “Then … I’m going to look at it pitch by pitch and try to have a good swing.”

Miranda finished the game 4 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs. Entering Wednesday night’s game, when the winning streak began, his batting average was .296, and he has since improved his average to .324.

He hit a single in the second inning and a 414-foot home run to left field in the third. Miranda set the Twins record of nine consecutive hits with a two-run double in the fifth. His record-breaking tenth hit in a row – a single to right field – came in the seventh inning.

With the Twins trailing 13-5 in the ninth inning, Austin Martin came in as a pinch hitter for Miranda – and hit a single.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was one of many in the clubhouse to recognize Miranda’s performance.

“It’s hard in Little League and playing video games and stuff. He’s doing it on a major league field right now,” Baldelli said. “I don’t want to talk about it too much anymore and I don’t talk to him about it. I’m just going to keep patting him on the back and letting him work.”