McCutchen credits Adele walk-up song for 2-HR game

Pittsburgh Pirates superstar Andrew McCutchen turned to a Grammy-winning artist Friday in an effort to break out of his season-long struggles.

By the sixth inning of Saturday's game against the Dodgers, McCutchen's bat was singing a much more familiar tune.

The Pirates center fielder snapped out of his funk with a little help from Adele, smacking a pair of homers off Kenta Maeda during Pittsburgh's 6-1 win over the Dodgers to mark just the second game since May 27 that McCutchen has gone deep.

After the game, the five-time All-Star credited Adele's song, "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)," for helping him find his groove at the plate.

"For starters, the Adele walk-up song felt real good," said McCutchen, who told reporters he switched his walk-up song before Friday's game, when he singled and walked in the Pirates' 8-6 win. "Had me feeling good, vibing, going up to bat. That's for starters. Everything after that was just everything after that, honestly."

The big game improved McCutchen's season OPS to .717, though still a ways off the elite .873 mark he's managed over his eight-year career. McCutchen, who now has hits in seven of his last nine games, says it's a step in the right direction.

"Of course it's going to be helpful. You go 0-for-100, that ain't helping," McCutchen said. "It's good to get some hits on the board - not only hits, but some big hits."

As for that other hit - Adele's walk-up song - McCutchen says it's not going anywhere.

"If y'all don't listen to Adele, y'all don't like Christmas. Everybody loves Adele," McCutchen said. "I rock with that song. ... Hey, I'm staying with it."

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)