MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits in Week-10
7. Dustin Garneau, 39 percent
On Friday, the Angels designated backup catcher Dustin Garneau for assignment. At least he’ll have the ninth inning Wednesday to remember fondly.
Garneau, who came to the Angels as a free agent over the winter, entered the game when the Angels pinch ran for Jonathan Lucroy in the bottom of the eighth. They trailed Oakland 9-8 at the time.
The move proved unnecessary thanks to Oakland pitchers’ charity. The runner, Taylor Ward, advanced to second on a base hit, moved to third on an intentional walk, and scored when Ryan Buchter unintentionally walked Shohei Ohtani.
After Hansel Robles set down the Athletics in the top of the ninth, Lou Trivino tried to do the same to the Angels. He got Kole Calhoun and David Fletcher, but surrendered a base hit to Brian Goodwin, who doubled the stakes by swiping second.
That threw the issue to Garneau. Trivino put him in a 1-2 hole, then threw a cutter that caught just enough of the plate. Garneau lofted it to deep left, where he thought Robbie Grossman would run under it. Nope…Grossman couldn’t get to it, and the ball one-hopped over the wall for a walk-off ground rule double.