Well guys, we’ve finally reached the All-Star Break. The first half is behind us. But before we reveal the most exciting walk offs of the first half, we’re going to recap the last week of them – and man, there were certainly some great ones.
July 7th, Braves vs Mets
The Braves were already salty after taking the lead in the eighth inning, blowing it, and seeing their manager get ejected in the ninth after a ridiculous overturned call on a challenge. But losing in walk off fashion to the Mets? Yeah, that’s just unacceptable.
July 7th, Pirates vs Cardinals
Charlie Morton actually pitched better than Adam Wainwright through the first even innings of this one, and when your starter outduels Adam Wainwright, you should win. But the Pirates couldn’t score a run, and Matt Adams hammered a Justin Wilson pitch deep into the St. Louis night in the ninth to crush the hopes of Pirates fans.
July 8th, Cubs vs Reds
The Reds slowly but surely picked away at a 5-0 Cubs lead, scoring a run in each of the final five innings to earn a doubleheader sweep. But to lose the game on a broken bat blooper that was just fair down the left field line? Allowing a lead off homer would have been easier to cope with.
July 8th, Pirates vs Cardinals
Another stomach punch for the Pirates, this one after their bullpen shut down the Cardinals for 3 2/3 innings. The game’s not over until after nine, though, and Kolten Wong put the stamp on it for the Cardinals.
July 9th, Marlins vs Diamondbacks
Imagine this turn of events – the game goes into extra innings, you score two in the top of the inning to take the lead, and then give up three in the bottom of the inning to lose. Steve Cishek is normally a very good pitcher for Miami, but he was terrible on this Wednesday in Phoenix.
July 9th, White Sox vs Red Sox
Chris Sale plowed through the Red Sox through 7 2/3 innings…and then the White Sox bullpen proceeds to tally a total of two outs in the eighth and ninth innings, giving up four runs on five hits while walking one. How demoralizing must THAT be? But hey, as Don Orsillo said on commentary – the legend of Brock Holt continues.
July 10th, White Sox vs Red Sox
Two days in a row? Man, Chicago. This walk off comes after the White Sox tied the game in the ninth against the untouchable Koji Uehara. Then in the tenth, Ronald Belisario happened, and struggling pinch hitter Mike Carp was the hero for Boston.
July 11th, Braves vs Cubs
LOLCu…wait, what? The Cubs were on the right side of a walk off? Sure, Hector Rondon blew the save in the ninth, but Jordan Walden gave it right back to the Cubs after retiring the first two hitters in order. Rookie Arismedy Alcantara gets a special shoutout here, singling and stealing second before scoring on Justin Ruggiano’s game-winning single.
July 11th, Yankees vs Orioles
Nothing much happened in the early going here, as the 2-2 score held from the fourth inning onward. Pitching out of the bullpen, Adam Warren laid an egg in the tenth. After Manny Machado doubled to lead the inning off, Warren struck out Ryan Flaherty and allowed a walk off single to Nick Hundley to end this one promptly.
July 12th, Padres vs Dodgers
I know the title of this post is “most exciting walk offs”, but this may be the *least* exciting walk off of the year. The Dodgers only tallied one hit in the ninth inning, loading the bases after a double, and a pair of walks (one intentional). All A.J. Ellis needed to do was get the ball to the outfield, and this one was over – and he did it about as well as you could imagine.
