The wackiest, wildest games of the year
As the calendar 12 months nears an finish, it’s a good time to look again at one other thrilling MLB season, notably a number of the extra notable moments. There had been particular person and group milestones, data damaged and unbelievable performances that left us in awe.
There had been additionally some wacky, wild video games that left us shocked.
Let’s keep in mind a number of the craziest contests we witnessed in 2023, from large — even historic — comebacks to a play within the postseason that had by no means been seen earlier than:
April 9 — Blue Jays 12, Angels 11 (10 innings)
The Angels jumped out to a 6-0 lead via 5 innings. That’s when issues acquired loopy. The Jays scored six runs within the sixth and 4 extra within the seventh to take a 10-6 lead. But all the way down to their remaining out within the ninth, trailing by three, the Halos loaded the bases.
Toronto’s nearer, Jordan Romano, hit Anthony Rendon to pressure in a run, and the subsequent batter, Hunter Renfroe, delivered a game-tying two-run double. The Blue Jays promptly responded within the high of the tenth, getting an RBI double from Kevin Kiermaier adopted by a George Springer RBI single to place Toronto forward, 12-10. The Blue Jays held on to win regardless of strolling Mike Trout with the bases loaded to pressure within the Angels’ eleventh run.
May 17 — Mets 8, Rays 7 (10 innings)
The Rays led this one, 5-2, heading into the underside of the ninth. But the Mets, because of the heroics of rookie catcher Francisco Alvarez, tied the sport on a two-out, three-run homer to pressure additional innings.
In the highest of the tenth, Tampa Bay went forward because of a pair of RBI singles — one from Harold Ramírez and the opposite by Josh Lowe. But the Mets responded with their second three-run homer in as many innings, this one a towering drive into the second deck in left-center subject by Pete Alonso to win it.
June 9 — Guardians 10, Astros 9 (14 innings)
Cleveland and Houston had been knotted at 6 on the finish of 9 innings because of Josh Naylor’s clutch RBI double with the Guardians all the way down to their remaining out. It remained that approach till Kyle Tucker lastly broke the logjam with a single to attain Jose Altuve within the high of the twelfth.
But the Guardians weren’t fazed. They eked out a run within the backside of the twelfth because of a throwing error by Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña. In the highest of the thirteenth, the Astros went forward once more on a Mauricio Dubón RBI double. But the Guards once more had a solution — Steven Kwan delivered a game-tying single within the backside of the body.
Tucker got here via with one other go-ahead single for Houston within the 14th, however the indomitable Guardians wouldn’t be deterred. Tyler Freeman doubled within the tying run and two batters later, Will Brennan gained this marathon with a double of his personal.
July 3 — Astros 12, Rangers 11
The Astros had been concerned in one other wild one a couple of month later, however this time Houston emerged victorious — although it was practically a catastrophe. Houston jumped out to a 10-2 lead over its Lone Star State rival, however the Rangers reeled off 9 unanswered runs to take an 11-10 lead into the ninth at Globe Life Field.
The Astros, regardless of blowing an eight-run lead, acquired up off the mat and scored twice within the ninth inning on back-to-back RBI doubles from José Abreu and Chas McCormick in what proved to be the distinction within the recreation.
Aug. 13 — Nationals 8, A’s 7
Aug. 13 was fairly a day for wild video games round baseball. One of them happened in Washington, the place the A’s took a 7-2 lead into the underside of the ninth in opposition to the Nationals.
In a scene harking back to a recreation that happened practically 4 years earlier, the Nats rallied for six runs to win it. On Sept. 3, 2019, Kurt Suzuki launched a walk-off three-run homer to cap a seven-run ninth to beat All-Star nearer Edwin Díaz and the Mets.
This time, all of it started with a Jeter Downs leadoff stroll in opposition to Trevor May. One out later, Joey Meneses and Keibert Ruiz hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Stone Garrett adopted with an RBI single. Ildemaro Vargas then hit a sacrifice fly.
It was now 7-4, however Washington was all the way down to its remaining out, making what adopted much more exceptional. Riley Adams got here to the plate and drew a stroll, spelling the top of May’s outing. Kirby Snead was summoned from Oakland’s bullpen and walked Dominic Smith to pressure in one other run.
Alex Call then reached on an E-6 that enabled two extra runs to attain and tie the sport. Downs, who had opened the inning with a stroll, delivered a game-winning single to finish the unbelievable comeback.
Aug. 13 — Marlins 8, Yankees 7
On the identical day, one other recreation ended with the identical remaining rating and one other wonderful ninth-inning comeback. At loanDepot park, the Yankees held a 7-3 benefit going into the underside of the ninth, with Clay Holmes attempting to shut out a New York victory.
But Yuli Gurriel had different concepts, opening the body with a double. After Jon Berti struck out, Nick Fortes singled and Jazz Chisholm Jr. drew a stroll to load the bases. Then, as is the case in lots of unbelievable comebacks, there was a defensive miscue — Josh Bell reached first on an errant throw by Holmes, enabling two runs to attain.
It was now 7-5. Up stepped Luis Arraez, who tripled in two extra to tie the sport. Two batters later, Jake Burger delivered a walk-off single to cap the rally as a shocked Yankees squad walked off the sector in an 8-7 loss.
Aug. 15 — Mariners 10, Royals 8 (10 innings)
This recreation featured one other impressed ninth-inning comeback by the house group, however with out the identical end result as what the Marlins and Nationals loved two days earlier.
The Royals, who trailed the Mariners within the fifth inning, 7-0, had been down 8-5 heading into the underside of the ninth at Kauffman Stadium. Nelson Velázquez opened the inning for Kansas City by reaching on an errant throw by Seattle second baseman Josh Rojas. One out later, Samad Taylor walked and the Royals introduced the tying run to the plate.
Maikel Garcia, nonetheless, grounded out softly to second, and Kansas City was all the way down to its remaining out. Bobby Witt Jr. stepped to the plate and drew a stroll to load the bases. Then back-to-back singles from Michael Massey and Salvador Perez tied the sport.
But that’s the place this plot diverged from the occasions that transpired in Washington and Miami a few days prior. Ty France helped Seattle avert catastrophe together with his clutch two-run single within the high of the tenth, and Tayler Saucedo closed the sport out with a 1-2-3 backside of the tenth for the Mariners.
Aug. 26 — Reds 8, D-backs 7 (11 innings)
Arizona led this one, 4-0, within the sixth inning. But the visiting Reds proceeded to attain 4 unanswered runs to push the sport into additional innings.
Then, issues acquired wild. Spencer Steer and Nick Martini opened the tenth with back-to-back doubles, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand added an RBI single for good measure, giving Cincinnati a three-run lead.
But that lead was short-lived. In the underside of the tenth, Geraldo Perdomo led off with a single to drive in Jose Herrera, who started the inning at second base. Perdomo finally got here round to attain when Tommy Pham reached on an error by second baseman Matt McLain. Christian Walker adopted that with a game-tying sacrifice fly, scoring Corbin Carroll, who had earlier walked.
When it involves wild finishes, this one was distinctive on this checklist — it wasn’t a success or a stroll that drove within the go-ahead run for the Reds within the eleventh, however a balk by D-backs reliever Nabil Crismatt. TJ Hopkins was on the plate when the balk occurred, after Steer reached on an infield single that despatched computerized runner TJ Friedl to 3rd.
One TJ was on the plate and one other represented the go-ahead run at third when Crismatt’s miscue gave Cincinnati the lead. Lucas Sims closed the sport out for the Reds with an uneventful backside of the eleventh.
Sept. 23 — Pirates 13, Reds 12
The Pirates not solely gained an exhilarating recreation with an unbelievable comeback on today, additionally they made franchise historical past within the course of.
Things began out ugly for Pittsburgh at Great American Ball Park. By the fourth inning, Cincinnati had a 9-0 lead. The Bucs, of their franchise’s 142-year historical past, had been 0-819 when trailing by 9 or extra runs in a recreation.
Then the unprecedented materialized — Pittsburgh scored 13 unanswered runs, together with three on an opposite-field homer by Bryan Reynolds, and extinguished a late Cincinnati risk because of some large protection.
In the eighth, the Reds had two on and one out, with the Pirates clinging to a 13-11 lead. Tyler Stephenson hit a pointy floor ball headed for heart subject. But second baseman Ji Hwan Bae made a sensational sliding seize, acquired up and commenced an inning-ending double play.
In the ninth, regardless of the Reds placing the primary two runners on and scoring a run on a groundout to tug inside a run, Carmen Mlodzinski closed the sport out for his first MLB save and a historic Pirates win.
Oct. 9 — Braves 5, Phillies 4 (NLDS Game 2)
Wild video games within the common season are one factor. A wild end to an epic postseason recreation? That’s fairly one other.
That’s what we noticed in Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Braves and Phillies at Truist Park. Atlanta featured essentially the most prolific offense within the recreation, tying an AL/NL document with 307 dwelling runs throughout the common season and turning into the primary group in AL/NL historical past to complete a season with a slugging share of .500 or higher (.501).
But the Braves’ lineup was conspicuously silent, with Phillies pitching shutting out Atlanta over the primary 14 innings of the collection. Then within the sixth inning of Game 2, Braves bats lastly woke up. Ozzie Albies singled dwelling Ronald Acuña Jr. to get them on the board. Then within the seventh, Travis d’Arnaud belted a two-run homer off Zack Wheeler to carry Atlanta inside one.
In the eighth, Austin Riley smashed a go-ahead two-run homer to set the stage for a wild and historic end.
Bryce Harper opened the ninth with a stroll in opposition to A.J. Minter. Raisel Iglesias was summoned from the Atlanta bullpen to face J.T. Realmuto. He acquired Realmuto to fly out, mentioning Nick Castellanos, who hit a drive to deep right-center subject.
Harper was off with the crack of the bat, though there was just one out. Center fielder Michael Harris II made a spectacular leaping catch on the wall, then fired the ball again towards the infield. It skipped to Riley, who was standing close to second base, and Riley fired to first to double off Harper and finish the sport.
Until that second, no postseason recreation had ever ended on an 8-5-3 double play.
