Cal Baseball: Marcus Semien's Hit Streak Reaches 22 Consecutive Games

The Rangers' second baseman had four hits, including 2 doubles and a 3-run homer on Saturday.

Marcus Semien finished third in the American League MVP race in both 2019 (with the A’s) and 2021 (with the Blue Jays), so the former Cal star has enjoyed some productive stretches at the plate.

But he’s never matched his current stretch — a major-league best and career-long 22-game hit streak.

Semien, 32, delivered his best game of the season — maybe the best of his career — on Saturday when he collected four hits, including two doubles and a three-run homer as the Texas Rangers walloped the Seattle Mariners 16-6.

He scored four runs in a game for the first time in his career, had his first four-hit game since May 6, 2021 vs. the A’s, and had three extra-base hits in a game for the first time since hitting a double, triple and home run on May 21, 2021 against the Rays.

Marcus Semien is doused after hitting his 3-run homer.

Photo by Jerome Miron, USA Today

Semien, who played for the Golden Bears from 2009-11, is the leadoff hitter and second baseman for the highest-scoring team in the majors. The Rangers assembled their 15th double-figure scoring game against Seattle, becoming just the third team since 1901 to record at least 15 games of 10 runs of more in their first 57 games of the season.

“It’s so hard to quantify,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told MLB.com, when asked to describe Semien’s importance to the Rangers. “He's out there every day. With the defense he gives you, with what he does offensively and what he does in the clubhouse and with his work ethic, I don't really don't know how to measure how big he is for this team.”

The Rangers enter play Sunday with a record of 37-20, best in the AL West and the team’s best start to this point in the season in franchise history.

Texas has done it with offense. The Rangers have a plus-143 run differential, the highest in baseball through 57 games since the 1939 Yankees (plus-160), a team led by Joe DiMaggio.

Curiously, Semien has been more steady and red-hot through his 22-game hit streak. His batting average over that stretch is .308, barely higher than his season mark of .304.

“Just plate discipline and hitting the fastball,” Semein told MLB.com, explaining his success. “I think that those are always the keys for me. I want to be a good offspeed taker and a good fastball hitter. If it's a mistake, do damage — as we all strive to do — and it's been working so far.”

Semien has vaulted himself into the AL leaders in a broad assortment of offensive categories. His season rankings through Saturday:

— Leads the AL in runs scored with 47

— Second in hits with 72

— Tied for second in doubles with 17

— Third in wins above replacement at 3.0

— Third in total bases with 120

— Fourth in RBIs with 47

— Seventh in batting at .304

— Eighth in slugging percentage at .506

— Eighth in on-base percentage at .371

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Cover photo of Marcus Semien hitting his 3-run homer by Jerome Miron, USA Today

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo