The Yankees were fired up after Slade Heathcott’s ninth-inning home run
Even the New York Yankees – you know, the franchise with 27 World Series titles – can get excited about pulling off a big comeback win in the midst in a playoff race.
For much of Monday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees’ offense didn’t look like much of a contender. They couldn’t muster a hit off Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez until the eighth inning, and with Tampa Bay’s All-Star closer Brad Boxberger coming in for the top of the ninth to protect a 1-0 lead, the road team was in tough.
[Watch this: Fan tries to rip a foul ball out of Adrian Gonzalez’ glove]
All of a sudden, New York’s bats came to life. Alex Rodriguez tied the game with a two-out RBI double. Two batters later, unlikely hero Slade Heathcott smashed a three-run opposite field home run to put New York in front, and his teammates went absolutely wild.
It was Heathcott’s first big-league at-bat since May, and just his second career homer in the majors.
The leader of the dugout celebrations? That would be A-Rod, who hilariously grabbed Heathcott from behind in a bear hug and attempted to lift him into the air.
“It’s fun watching a young kid like that,’’ Rodriguez said. “It’s a big signature Yankee moment.’’
Every Yankees player was fired up. It looked like even ol’ Joe Girardi cracked something that resembled a smile.
That smile would have reason to stay there too. Andrew Miller came in to work the bottom of the ninth and struck out the side to seal a massive 4-1 Yankees win.
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New York’s lead for the top wild-card spot is now three games, and they’re three games back of the Blue Jays in the AL East. With a three-game series to come next week in Toronto, the Yankees still have a real shot to take the division title.
If they do indeed cut down the Blue Jays over the final three weeks and win the AL East, Heathcott’s clutch homer could be a hit that becomes a defining moment from this Yankees season.
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Israel Fehr is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr
