Luke Voit hits leadoff walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to lift New York to win.
He hits MLB’S first leadoff walk-off sacrifice fly, with baserunner rule in effect
The first leadoff, walk-off sacrifice fly in major league history put the New York Yankees back in commanding position for a playoff berth with just more than two weeks left in the regular season.
Yes, that’s right, Luke Voit LED OFF the 10th inning with a gameending sacrifice fly.
“It’s 2020, man. Things are weird, and you got to take advantage of what opportunities you get,” Voit said after the Yankees beat Baltimore 2-1 Saturday to extend their winning streak to four.
Thank this year’s rule calling for extra innings to start with a runner on second base. DJ Lemahieu, who made New York’s last out of the ninth, went to second and advanced when Hunter Harvey (0-2) bounced his first pitch off the mitt of catcher Pedro Severino to the backstop.
Voit, hitting in shadows that extended to just in front of the mound, worked the count to 2-2, fouled off three pitches and hit a 99-mph fastball to center field. Cedric Mullins made a backhand grab 335 feet from the plate and didn’t bother to throw as Lemahieu trotted home leisurely.
Voit, among the major league leaders with 37 RBIS, is used to the extra-inning runner rule.
“Playing in the minors for four years, we have that same thing,” he said.
Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit the only previous leadoff sacrifice fly in the majors, in the 10th on Aug. 15, but that was in the top half of the inning at Anaheim following Chris Taylor’s stolen base. The Dodgers hung on for a 6-5 win.
New York started the shortened season 16-6, plummeted with a 5-16 funk and now is on its longest winning streak since taking six in a row from Aug. 11-17.
“Sometimes what separates good and great teams is you’ve got to be able to grind through those tough times,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
A day after sweeping a doubleheader from Baltimore, New York (25-21) opened a 41/2-game lead over the Orioles (20-25) for the American League’s eighth and final playoff berth and temporarily closed on Toronto for second place in the AL East. After losing three of four at Camden Yards last weekend. Toronto later won.