San Francisco Giants’ Pablo Sandoval Catches Fire. Or On Fire. Or Something.

April 30, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman

(48) celebrates with

(8) after hitting a two run home run in the ninth inning during a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re Pablo Sandoval, it might be a good idea to stop, drop and roll because the hefty Venezuelan is on fire. Seriously. Watch the guy closely and you’ll see a trail of smoke tailing the guy and it’s not fart dust from Jose Mijares.

After hitting a game winning, two-run behemoth of a bomb off Arizona Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz last night, a ball which still may be in flight, Sandoval collected his fourth straight multi-hit game but that doesn’t take into account just hot hot Sandoval has been.

In those past four games, Sandoval has 11 hits in his past 18 at bat’s but the streak is even more impressive if you take into account his week prior where, outside of two hitless games, Sandoval had another stretch where he went 7 of 16. Overall, since April 20th – a stretch of nearly two weeks, Sandoval is 18 of 34 (a .529 average) and if you take out his two hitless games in that period, he’s 18 of 43 otherwise – a .418 average.

More than just the average though is just how Sandoval is hitting. Pitchers literally can’t get him out. He’s taking pitches at his eyes and sending them over the outfield walls. He’s taking pitches inches from bouncing in the dirt and sending them into the corner for doubles. Pitches that are a good eight inches outside, he somehow finds a way to make solid contact with.

Looking at Sandoval’s ESPN Hit Zone chart from the past thirty days, the Giants’ third baseman has FIVE zones outside of the strike zone where he’s hitting .400 or better – a stat that even Vladimir Guerrero would be envious of.

Enjoy the hot streak folks – just don’t get burned.