The New York Yankees were in danger of losing to the hapless Chicago White Sox. That wouldn’t be a great way to start the last week of the MLB regular season.
But Jose Caballero refused to go down without a fight.
And with a chance to be the hero, Caballero fought for a 9-pitch at bat.
On the ninth offering, Caballero singled home the winning run for a 3-2 victory.
In the process, Caballero had done something that a Yankees player hadn’t done in 23 years.
The last time a Yankee had an at bat with nine pitches or more resulting in a walk-off winner was 2002, when Jorge Posada did it, according to NY Yankees Stats.
It was an especially cool moment for Caballero.
The Yankees got him at the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays, and almost immediately, he had a costly error that fit right into an early-August New York rut.
But Caballero has been a notable name in recent weeks as the Yankees have decided what to do with Anthony Volpe at shortstop.
Caballero can play all over the field, and he’s fast as heck. The Yankees need him to hit.
And on this night, Caballero refused to be gotten out.
He battled, and battled, and battled some more. And on the ninth pitch of his at bat, Caballero ended the ballgame.
