New York Yankees star Ryan McMahon provided heroics during Thursday night’s do-or-die Game 3 against the Boston Red Sox.
The Yankees faced their bitter rivals in a crucial playoff decider to keep their season – and World Series hopes – alive in the Bronx.
And with a spot in the American League Divisional Series on the line, McMahon put his body on the line.
At the top of the eighth inning with the Yankees leading 4-0, McMahon raced 75 feet across the field to track down a high, arcing ball from Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Not only did McMahon manage to get a hand to the ball he managed to successfully cling onto it as he went flying for the second out of the inning.
He hurtled head first over the railings of the third-base dugout, flipping past the stunned Boston players and staff.
Despite his somersault into the Red Sox bench, McMahon emerged from the outrageous stunt unscathed and remained in the game.
McMahon received a standing ovation inside Yankee Stadium, while many fans on social media likened it to legendary shortstop Derek Jeter’s flip play in 2001 against the Athletics.
The third baseman’s sacrifice helped protect yet another stunning inning from pitcher Cam Schlittler, who three eight scoreless innings.
Rookie right-hander Schlittler struck out 12 as he shut down Boston with 100 mph heat.
The 24-year-old, a Massachusetts native who grew up a Red Sox fan, made his major league debut on July 9.
He outpitched Connelly Early, a 23-year-old left-hander who debuted on September 9 and became Boston´s youngest postseason starting pitcher since 21-year-old Babe Ruth in 1916.
Schlittler struck out two more than any other Yankees pitcher had in his postseason debut, allowing five singles in eight innings and walking none. He threw 11 pitches of 100 mph or higher – including six in the first inning, one more than all Yankees pitchers had combined before previously since pitch tracking started in 2008.
Schlittler threw 75 of 107 pitches for strikes, starting 22 of 29 batters with strikes and topping out at 100.8 mph. David Bednar worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth as the Red Sox failed to advance a runner past second.
The Yankees went on to win 4-0 in the winner-take-all Game 3 to set up a clash against the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Division Series starting on Saturday.
New York became the first team to lose the opener and advance from the expanded first round, which began in 2022.
Read more
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