Mark Vientos hit second in the lineup Thursday for what he said was the first time since high school, when he told his coach to put him there.
In reality, he hit there twice last season and went just 1-for-9 with five strikeouts.
But on Thursday, the third baseman was bumped up in part due to the unavailability of Brandon Nimmo, who missed the 7-6 loss to Oakland due to a stomach virus.
The results for Vientos were better this time as he homered twice for the second time this season and the third time in his career.
He called hitting second “nice,” adding that he likes hitting high in the lineup because it gives him a chance to get more at-bats.
When asked about the move before the game, Carlos Mendoza said he had been impressed by Viento’s recent batting practices.
“His ability to make adjustments and his ability to go the other way,” Mendoza said of what stood out about Vientos. “He can do damage.”
Vientos did just that, first in the third inning when he hit a two-run homer to right-center, and then an inning later with another shot to opposite field.
Mendoza did not rule out putting Vientos back in the two-hole in the future, “depending on who is available [and] who we are facing. He looked comfortable.”
Vientos has looked good wherever he’s hit for most of the season, which has mostly been fifth, sixth or seventh after taking over for Brett Baty in mid-May.
Since becoming a full-time third baseman, Vientos has the fourth-highest OPS (.858) at the position, trailing only Boston’s Rafael Devers, Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez and the Giants’ Matt Chapman.
JD Martinez called Vientos “hungry.”
“I respect that,” Martinez said. “He shows up when dogs are on the mound.”
For Martinez’s score, Viento’s second two-homer game of the year came in the Subway Series against Gerrit Cole.
He had been just 6-for-33 in August until Thursday’s loss, but as Mendoza noted, Viento’s all-field power makes him dangerous at any time.