Josh Reddick nearly hit a walk-off Little League home run

The Houston Astros and Oakland A’s cornered the market on crazy Friday night, so it only would have been appropriate for Josh Reddick to dash home in the 10th inning with the game-winning, which also would have doubled as a walk-off Little League home run. 

The thing is, this game was so crazy, a crazy A’s victory wasn’t good enough. It needed to go another inning, where the first-place Astros — crazy, isn’t it? — could prove their resilience before holding off another wild A’s rally. 

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Digest that.

Now we’ll continue.

Prior to the play in question. Houston had just taken a 2-0 lead in the 10th inning. Reddick stepped up with Oakland down to its final out and the tying runs on base. He proceeded to lace a double to left-center field that sliced away Colby Rasmus. Sam Fuld scored easily from second. For Stephen Vogt, the tying run, it was a lot closer as he motored around from the first. The relay throw came home and had Vogt beat, but it skipped away from catcher Hank Conger.

Reddick, eyeing a big finish, then charged home. Unfortunately for him, closer Luke Gregorson did his job backing up the plate. Reddick ended up being out a good 10 feet, but man, the shot of the ball bouncing away and Reddick with his head down running hard was thrilling. 

Was it smart? Maybe not. They would have had a man on third with two outs and Eric Sogard at the plate. Who knows though, the percentages may have slightly higher for the ball to bounce a different direction or the Astros botching another throw than Sogart getting a hit. 

As it turns out, Sogard did not get that hit. In the 11th, Houston would break loose for three runs off Eric O’Flaherty. Three being the key, since Oakland once again scored two before leaving the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Chad Qualls earned the save, retiring Brett Lawrie to end it. 

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It’s exhausting to consider everything that was jammed into those two innings. It’s also amazing considering the superb starting pitching that led up to extra innings. Astros’ starter Dallas Keuchel was every bit as good on Friday as any starter we’ve seen this season, holding the A’s scoreless through nine innings on two hits and two walks. He actually had a chance for the victory, but Reddick spoiled that with his big hit.

On the other side, Scott Kazmir dialed up seven scoreless innings before giving way to Evan Scribner and Tyler Clippard in regulation.  

There was so much to like about this game. It was edge-of-your-seat wild, it was well played for the most part and definitely well pitched. It had a little bit of everything, and it ends with the Astros extending a division lead. It’s April, sure, but it’s still fantastic. 

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813