Sometimes a home run isn’t needed to get the job done. Sometimes all you need to do is get your bat on the ball. That was the case for Aaron Judge on Sunday.
The New York Yankees kept their fans on edge for eight and a half scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Finally in the bottom of the ninth, they got two runners on.
Judge was at the plate with runners on second and third and one out against Andrew Kittredge. He stuck his bat out at a 2-2 pitch and hit a ball that deflected off the mound into the air. The change of direction gave enough time for Tyler Wade to dive into home before the tag.
The @Yankees walk it off into the postseason! #CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/uz2yfV0q9O
— MLB (@MLB) October 3, 2021
That gave the Yankees a 1-0 walk-off win and allowed them to clinch the top AL wild card spot. At the time of their victory, they were assured of at least a tie for the wild card. Now they are definitively in, at least for one game.
