Rollercoaster Walkoff! Reasons Why NY 6 KC 5 on 6-23-21

June 24, 2021 paperbacklou 2021 0

The Yankees went from jubilation to despair to jubilation in the 9th inning as Luke Voit ripped a shot off the left field wall scoring Tyler Wade for a walkoff win — after Gary Sanchez had just tied the game in the bottom of the 9th with a homer — after Aroldis Chapman had just blown the save in the 9th after Aaron Boone had him walk the bases loaded — after Rougned Odor had miraculously pulled the Yanks from the darkest depths of mordor to having the lead with a 2-run homer with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th. Rollercoaster.

A rollercoaster win.

It pulled NY back to within 4.5 of Boston, and 4 behind Tampa, as Tampa beat Boston.

Details:

1. Boone Pulls King with 2 Outs in 5th Again

The early game was Michael King against the Kansas City bullpen. Aaron Boone for the iftieth time this year removed his starting pitcher with 2 outs in the 5th denying him a chance at a win. This has happened to Michael King continuously — reason why he is 0-3 4.05 on the season.

But you couldn’t blame Boone for the move, although it was partly his fault.

King got in trouble in the 5th in a 2-2 tie — partially due to Boone. With 2 outs, 1 on, Boone had him intentionally walk Carlos Santana — the hard-hitting switch hitter who slashes a 12-41-.250 (.373) this year — and then King hit catcher Sebastian Rivero with a pitch to load the bases and was gone.

Next up was the red-hot Ryan O’Hearn— who had hit a 2-run homer off King in the 1st inning — King’s only run-scoring mistake of the evening. Boone brought in Chad Green, and he got O’Hearn to fly out to end the threat.

2. KC Bullpen Day

King was up against the Kansas City bullpen as it was their bullpen day: Danny Duffy “opened” and pitched 2 shutout, no-hit innings. But the Yanks got to the 3rd reliever, Carlos Hernandez, in the 4th.

Giancarlo Stanton got a lead-off walk, and then with 2 outs, Miguel Andujar walked and Clint Frazier hit a rocket to rightcenter for a 2-RBI double to tie the game.

3. Santana Homers Off Britton

Carlos Santana led off the 8th with a homer off Zack Britton to give KC a 3-2 lead. This foreshadowed Boone ordering Aroldis Chapman to intentionally walk Santana in the 9th. And aft-shadowed Boone having King walk Santana in the 5th.

4. Odor from the Depths of Mordor

Yankee Twitter was resigned to another frustrating loss by the 8th. Especially after Miguel Andujar grounded into a double play after Gleyber Torres had led off with a walk.

But then… Clint Frazier walked. And Rougned Odor stepped up with 2 out against KC reliever Jake Brentz.

John Sterling mistakenly called it a 3-run homer on radio — having forgotten about the double play.

 5. Boondoggled 9th

Aroldis Chapman took the mound with a 4-3 lead amidst Yankee Stadium and Yankee Twitter jubilation in the 9th. He struck out the first batter, but then allowed a bloop single to center. He struck out Hanser Alberto for 2 outs.

But then allowed a seeing-eye single to Whit Merrifield.

Two out — runners on 1st and 3rd — and Boone had Chapman intentionally walk Carlos Santana. Chapman appeared to not agree on the mound but did so. It loaded the bases and put the go-ahead run in scoring position at 2nd.

Boone wanted Chapman to face the rookie Sebastian Roberto instead. Chapman — who has been wild lately and in fact escaped with a triple play on Sunday after throwing 10 of 11 pitches for balls — walked Roberto on 4 pitches. Tie game.

Then a little infield squibbler hit to 3rd by O’Hearn and KC had a 5-4 lead.

As CaroLine Jastremski noted, “this is the opposite of a tripLe pLay.” Aroldis Chapman could be seen in the dugout not too pleased.

Analysis

Boone’s move might have made sense had it been 2nd and 3rd, 2 out and maybe another time when Chapman was in a nightly groove — but the intentional walk moved the go-ahead run to scoring position at 2nd, and put all the pressure on Chapman who had just thrown all those balls the other day. Santana had hit the homer earlier however, so it’s debatable.

6. Wild Comeback Finish

Bottom of the 9th, KC ace reliever Greg Holland struck out Aaron Judge but Gary Sanchez came up and lifted Yankee fans from the depths of mordor again with a game-tying 379-foot homer to left.

Giancarlo Stanton then singled, and was pinch run for by Tyler Wade who advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch by Holland.

Up stepped Luke Voit. A bash off the wall in left for the game-winning, walkoff hit.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401228157

What Did You Think?

Have a comment on the game? Agree or disagree with Boone’s strategies or what went down in the game? Please feel free to comment below.

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