You rarely see a rookie changing a team’s face in the way Hunter Pence has done it with the Houston Astros. It seems like a fairytale. Of course there are several other players such as Carlos Lee with a main role in this unfolding daily drama. But it sure sounds interesting to study how this youngster whose Major League promotion was asked by many fans, has influenced in the way the ‘Stros are playing these days, after four straight wins and finally showing a record above .500. Just take a look at this excerpt from tonight’s postgame notes courtesy of the Astros Media Relations department.

OF Hunter Pence went 4×4 with his fourth home run and has hit safely in seven consecutive at-bats (over eight plate appearances) from 5/15 (2nd inning)-5/16 (8th inning)…he has reached base in eight consecutive plate appearances during that span, including a fourth-inning walk on 5/15…Pence is the first Astro to collect seven consecutive hits (one or more game) since Vinny Castilla from May 31-June 1, 2001…he is one hit away from tying the club record (8 consecutive hits, Art Howe; Sept. 1 (Gm 2)-6, 1980)…additionally, Pence is the first MLB rookie to collect a hit in seven or more consecutive at-bats since SF OF Jason Ellison in 2005 (Ellison had a hit in eight consecutive at-bats).