When you think about some of the great games that have taken place over the last couple of years, you think about the 14-12 slugfest between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins in late July of 2019 where Yankee center fielder Aaron Hicks came up with an insane walk-off catch to wrap things up. You talk about the first game of a two game set at the London Series between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox that ended in a wild 17-13 finish in the Yankees favor. You talk about a clash between the Yankees and the Chicago White Sox that happened just a few months ago where, in the 9th inning of that game, the Bronx Bombers would flash the leather and turn a triple play to get out of a jam. This would eventually set up a walk-off single by Gleyber Torres to win the game, 2-1. Now, notice how all of those games I’ve mentioned so far where about the Yankees winning in an unbelievable way. But, they just so happened to be on the losing side of a wild game last night where the White Sox seeked revenge.
In the bottom of the 1st, a hanging curveball from Yankee starter Andrew Heaney was absolutely scorched by the reigning AL MVP, José Abreu, and barely crept over the left field fence to get the White Sox on the board first, 1-0. The 2nd inning passes by with no runs so, we go to the top of the 3rd inning. After a DJ LeMahieu walk, the longest tenured Yankee on the roster, Brett Gardner, laces a ball into right field for a single. That hit would send the powerful bat of Aaron Judge to the dish, and what else does he do but take a 1-2 fastball to the opposite field for a 3-run bomb to give the Yankees the lead, 3-1. But, in the bottom half, White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson ripped an RBI double down the left field line to cut the lead to 3-2. After a José Abreu walk, star outfielder Eloy Jiménez takes a page out of Judge’s book and hits a 3-run homer of his own to get the lead right back, 5-3. Fast forward to the bottom of the 4th inning, and temporary White Sox catcher Seby Zavala hits a 2-run home run to stretch the lead even further, 7-3. That home run was his 4th long ball of the season in just 21 games played, 3 of them coming from a July 31st affair with the Cleveland Indians. What was so interesting about that day was that those were his first home runs ever as a big leaguer and is the only player to ever accomplish that feat. The 5th inning comes and goes, onto the 6th. In the bottom half, Brett Gardner laces another ball into right field, but this time it goes over the right field fence to chip away at the lead, 7-4. The 7th and 8th innings go by with no runs, so to the 9th inning we go. White Sox closer, Liam Hendriks, comes into the game looking to get the save and get out of Dyersville, Iowa with an easy, comfortable win. But, things were about to get very, very interesting. After a Tyler Wade bunt single, Aaron Judge once again comes up clutch for the Yankees and clubbs a two-run homer to right-center field to cut the lead to 1. That home run was Judge’s 25th of the year and 2nd of the game. Now, Hendriks seems to get a little bit uncomfortable as the Yankees are getting closer and closer to getting the lead again. And after a Joey Gallo walk, Giancarlo Stanton comes up to the plate looking to get that lead back. And boy did he. Stanton crushed the first pitch that Hendriks threw to him over the left field fence to finish off the comeback, 8-7. But, there was still a bottom half of the 9th now that the Yankees came back. And Zach Britton had to be the one to close things out and finish off this improbable turn of events. But, with one out, Zavala came up big again for the White Sox as he walked. This would bring up Tim Anderson, who got an RBI double earlier in the game. And on the first pitch of the at-bat, Britton puts his trademark sinkerball pitch on a tee for Anderson to mash it into the Iowa night. The White Sox walk it off in a thriller, 9-8.
Not even the best Disney movie of all-time could’ve scripted this game better. Earlier today, I heard someone mention that you could’ve just watched that 9th inning not knowing anything about baseball, and you would become a baseball fan on the spot. I most definitely agree with this claim. The amount of excitement with the Yankees comeback and the Tim Anderson walk-off homer was palpable. When I watched him round the bases as fireworks were flying, I just stared in awe at my TV. See, when you watch games like this, it makes you realize that baseball is such a unique sport because it’s like a movie. You’re going to get the peaks and valleys. You’re going to get the thrill and suspense of wondering what will happen next. But, you’re also going to get a happy ending (unless you’re on the losing end, of course). After I watch a good movie, I’ll think to myself; “When is the sequel coming out?” And in this case, baseball fans need a sequel. According to Joe Buck on the broadcast last night, Commissioner Rob Manfred is committed to making this happen in 2022. If this is true, maybe we could see a classic Cubs vs Cardinals matchup. Maybe even another Yankees vs Red Sox game outside of Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park. But, the point is, when you’re playing a baseball game just steps away from the set of one of the greatest sports movies ever, then you’re bound for some magical theatrics.