“I wanted the opportunity”
this is the rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe said about his last at-bat after Yankees‘ 6-5 Comeback Win Over Orioles on Tuesday night.
With the score tied 5–5 in the 10th inning, Volpe came in with one out and men on the corners. Orioles intentionally walked DH Willie Calhoun To set up a potential double play and expand the game.
The 22-year-old batted just .212 in Tuesday’s game and went just 3-14 over his last four games. He went 0-for-4 in that at-bat on Tuesday, so getting a ground ball seemed likely from the Orioles’ perspective. But as he has done for most of the season, Volpe didn’t let the moment get too big.
Trying not to do too much, Volpe found a pitch he could lift into the outfield and launched a 96-mph fastball into deep center field for the sac fly and the Yankees win.
“Anthony had the right approach there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone Said. “In the middle of the diamond, get the ball up in the air, something to pick up. Get the right swing and we were able to get one tonight.”
Boone said, “It’s been fun navigating this (season) with all eyes on (Volpe) and he handles everything so well. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, knows how to play. Upgraded to makeup and feels like the right guy right there.
The Yankees were down 4–0 to the Orioles early in Tuesday’s game before coming back to tie it in the fifth inning. But after Baltimore retook the lead, aaron judgeA ninth-inning homer with two outs tied the game to send it into extra innings, where Volpe eventually won it.
Tuesday’s win was a microcosm of the Yankees’ season, a lot of ups and downs but a lot more wins since then. The Yankees have now won five in a row and eight of their last 10 games.
And although Volpe has been on offense on a few occasions this season, his numbers just don’t jump off the page. Despite this, the Yankees are satisfied with where he is and are confident that the offensive production will come, but they are more pleased with the poise shown by their young shortstop with the pressure being put on the pinstripes.
“When we got him we were betting on him. Yeah, he had a great spring. In terms of the numbers he produced and that matters but it was more about what we think about the person. think,” Boone explained. “That poise is part of that. Baseball IQ, intelligence, mature and he’s handled everything well. He’s fought well, he’s handled success, came in with established guys and made himself a big part of it.” He is every bit as important as all of them.
And the veterans agree. When Volpe drove in the winning run, he was applauded by his teammates and during on-field postgame interviews by judges and Anthony Rizzo Made sure to give her an honorary ice bath.
Judge said of Volpe’s walk-off, “The first big walk-off in a big situation in a game where we were down.” was getting rewarded. So to see him come out there in a great position and win us the game, Rizzo and I were very excited. Couldn’t let him go down without water. ,
And while Volpe said he might want to forgo the ice bath, the soft-spoken rookie made sure to take the moment.
“Full game and full moment,” Volpe said with a big grin. “It was one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments to be the first.”
