We have an odd batch of walk offs for you this week, featuring homers, errors, and yes, a balk. You can’t get much more diverse than this!
May 20th, Giants vs Rockies – a wild comeback.
Nolan Arenado missed a walk off homer by inches, but with two outs and men on the corners in a one-run game, it really didn’t matter. Colorado needed to come back twice to win this game, which made the win that much sweeter. Unfortunately for them, Arenado broke his finger a few days later, and could be out until July.
May 21st, Tigers vs Indians – Game of the Year?
It’s a little early to start calling anything the Game of the Year, but this Tigers-Indians contest will be up there at the end of the year. Cleveland tied the game at nine in the ninth thanks to a two-run homer by David Murphy, and needed two more in the 13th to win it. They got the first one on a single by Michael Brantley, and they got the second one on a balk by Al Albuquerque. Amazing.
May 21st, Diamondbacks vs Cardinals – no choice.
Bases loaded, none out, extra innings…Chris Owings had no choice but to throw home here. And honestly, a good throw gets Matt Holliday at the plate and keeps the inning going. That’s easier said than done, because Owings’ throw went to the backstop and the Cardinals won.
May 22nd, Phillies vs Marlins – the gut punch.
A three-run eighth inning tied this game at three and made the Phillies feel a little bit better about their chances going into the ninth. And then…Jake Diekman happened. No comeback for you, Philadelphia.
May 22nd, Athletics vs Rays – a shocking win.
It looked like we were going to have another disappointing Rays loss on our hands in this one. Tampa Bay blew a 1-0 lead in the ninth, and an Oakland run in the 11th spelled doom. But the Rays somehow scored four in the bottom of the inning to win it, capped off with this homer by Sean Rodriguez that snuck around the left field foul pole.
May 23rd, Red Sox vs Rays – kicking the champs while they’re down.
John Lackey and Chris Archer traded zeroes all game, and this contest came down to a battle of the bullpens. When Andrew Miller walked Desmond Jennings with one out the ninth, you knew bad things were bound to happen. Sure enough, another new Rays face, Cole Figueroa, delivered the game-winner.
May 23rd, Yankees vs White Sox – well done.
Adam Dunn walk off homers are a thing of beauty. But there’s more awesomeness than that in this homer – there’s the exasperation from David Robertson, the sheer glee from Hawk Harrelson…man, it’s a gem.
May 24th, Red Sox vs Rays – falling apart.
Boston had a 5-0 lead in the first inning, and pissed it away over the first five innings of the game. They did nothing to put more runs on the board in this marathon of a game, so Desmond Jennings’ walk off fielder’s choice that was aided by an Andrew Miller throwing error almost seemed to be a mercy killing for this game.
May 26th, Padres vs Diamondbacks – Pollock hooks a winner.
Apologies for the fish pun, but it was necessary for a player other than Mike Trout or Kevin Bass. Anyway, the Diamondbacks blew a pair of leads in this one, but A.J. Pollock made their third lead of the day stick with this bomb to center field.
