MLB star sets team record with HR streak, claims 'secret salsa' could be key

By Ross Kelly July 22, 2018 at 11:01am

The month of May is designated as “National Salsa Month,” but someone apparently forgot to tell that to Matt Carpenter.

The Cardinals infielder has been on a historic tear as of late and he says homemade salsa has been the fuel to his success.

Carpenter homered in both games of a doubleheader against the Cubs on Saturday to give him homers in six straight games. That breaks Mark McGwire’s single-season record for the most consecutive games with a home run in Cardinals history.

Carpenter also broke Big Mac’s record for the longest streak of extra base hits. The three-time All-Star’s last 12 hits have been XBHs, which is the longest streak by a Cardinal since 1900.

Additionally, Carpenter put his name alongside baseball’s home run king, Barry Bonds, by hitting eight home runs in six games.

Matt Carpenter has 8 HR during his 6-game HR streak. The last player with as many HR during a 6-game HR streak was Barry Bonds in 2004. pic.twitter.com/chTPxPpvVh

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 22, 2018

So what does salsa have to do with all of this? Well according to Carpenter, homemade salsa created with ingredients from his garden is what provoked this red-hot streak.

Carpenter was hitting just .160 in mid-May when he returned from a road trip to find his backyard had suddenly transformed into a garden. It was a gift from Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright who was on the DL and is an avid gardener himself.

Carpenter created his salsa from what was growing in the garden and started taking it on the road with him. Since that mid-May road trip, Carpenter is batting .343 with an OPS of 1.194.

Will Matt Carpenter finish as the NL leader in home runs?

“Maybe it’s the salsa?” Carpenter shrugged after the team’s 6-3, Game 2 win. “I don’t know. But I’m going to keep eating it for sure.”

“I wouldn’t call it chunky,” Carpenter said of the salsa. “This is the sweeter version. Not as hot. I’m big into salsa, and I’ve just been making it. I just happened to bring it on the road trip, and it’s going pretty well. I’m going to keep eating it until it stops happening.”

When you have a day like @MattCarp13 had yesterday you keep everything in your pre-game routine the exact same… right down to the homemade salsa! pic.twitter.com/gUv4hSKCU1

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 21, 2018

Carpenter now leads the National League with 25 home runs after never hitting more than 28 in a single season. He could join McGwire and Albert Pujols as the only Cardinals to lead the league in home runs in the last 75 years.

Teammates have joined into the act of feasting on Carpenter’s salsa and he says they can have as much as they want, but they just can’t have the recipe.

Matt’s Secret Salsa Update: @MattCarp13 once again enjoyed some salsa with his breakfast, and he even shared some with @DexterFowler! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/z52pXatzBh

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 22, 2018

You better believe we're putting Matt's Secret Salsa on our breakfast today! #RallySalsa pic.twitter.com/KmGOgzPAsD

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 22, 2018

“No,” Carpenter responded when asked if he would reveal the ingredients. “I can’t tell you what’s in the salsa.”

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