Whit Merrifield Passes George Brett's 30 Game Hit Streak To Set Royals All Time Mark

MLB.com reports:

Royals super utility man Whit Merrifield, who prides himself on handling the bat in any situation, executed a perfect bunt down the third-base line in Wednesday night's 6-5 loss to the Mariners that not only gave him a hit, but it drove in Terrance Gore and tied the game at 5.

Merrifield now has a 31-game hitting streak, passing George Brett’s club mark of 30 set in 1980. The Royals, though, dropped their ninth straight, as Mitch Haniger hit an opposite-field home run in the top of the ninth and a furious rally in the bottom of the ninth ended with the bases loaded as Adalberto Mondesi popped out.

There was definitely drama to this one, too, as Merrifield had gone 0-for-3 before the at-bat, and there was uncertainty as to whether he would get a fifth at-bat.

Merrifield said he noticed third baseman Ryon Healy playing a little deep in his previous at-bat.

“Had flashbacks of high school,” Merrifield said. “I remembered that dad would take his hat off and rub his hair to give me a signal, and South Carolina coach Ray Tanner would rub his nose to signal. I used to bunt a lot when I was young, because I couldn’t drive the ball, so those young years paid off.”

Said Royals manager Ned Yost, “It surprised me and it surprised them. It was a perfect bunt. Whit doesn’t bunt that much, but he laid down a beauty.”