Indians complete comeback with improbable walk-off home run
In a possible postseason preview, the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays provided drama on Friday night that is typically reserved for October’s biggest moments.
With two ninth-inning swings and one mad dash around the bases, the Indians turned a one-run deficit into a 3-2 victory that sent Progressive Field into an unbridled frenzy. The circumstances surrounding that final sequence though have to be seen to be believed.
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With reliable closer Roberto Osuna on the hill, Toronto figured it was in good hands. That was, until Jose Ramirez tied the game with a conventional home run. We say conventional, because it cleared the outfield wall. We also say conventional because the home run that followed was anything but.
Rookie outfielder Tyler Naquin won the game with an inside-the-park homer that caromed off the top of the right-field wall and left Toronto’s outfield defense scrambling. By the time center fielder Melvin Upton retrieved the baseball, Naquin already had a triple in the bag. Then Upton slipped as he attempted to throw back to the infield, and Naquin never stopped running.
That led to a dramatic scene at home plate as Naquin belly-flopped just ahead of the baseball. Adding to the scene, many of Naquin’s teammates had already exploded out of the dugout and practically raced him to the plate in anticipation of the outcome.
Let us introduce you to our new post-victory GIF.#RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/rjaajlIfKU
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) August 20, 2016
That was, without a doubt, the highlight of an already remarkable season for the first-place Indians. It’s also one of the coolest images of the entire season in baseball. Just look at the pure joy of Indians players as they chased Naquin home.
It was a walkoff so epic, even LeBron James joined in the celebration.
Unbelievable finish for the @Indians!! WOW. wonderful atmosphere in there tonight. #Windians #StriveForGreatness #TheyreNext
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 20, 2016
By the way, this was the first walk-off inside-the-park home run in MLB since Angel Pagan of the Giants did it on May 25, 2013. Prior to that, it had not happened since 2004.
With the win, Cleveland extended its division to seven games over the Detroit Tigers. On the other side, the stunned Blue Jays saw their AL East diminish to one-half game over the Boston Red Sox.
That will add to the agony of a painful defeat. But as in the postseason, there’s no time to sulk as these teams will be back at it again on Saturday and Sunday to complete what promises to be an intense and exciting series.
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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!
