MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits in Week-22
4. Franmil Reyes, 48 percent
Of the week’s four most significant hits, three were delivered in losing causes. Cleveland’s Franmil Reyes came through Sunday in the bottom of the ninth inning of an eventual 9-8 Indians loss to the Kansas City Royals in 10 innings.
The Indians were almost as dead as Marley’s ghost entering that inning. They trailed 8-4 thanks to a five-run Kansas City eighth. When the inning began, the prospects of a Cleveland victory measured just 1 percent, and although the Indians eventually did lose, that fact severely understates the drama of what was about to ensue.
With one out, Francisco Lindor homered to move Cleveland within three runs. Oscar Mercado grounded into the second out, but Carlos Santana kept hope alive by drawing a walk and then Yasiel Puig singled. A wild pitch moved the runners to second and third with Reyes at-bat.
The Indians needed a home run, so Reyes delivered one. Facing Ian Kennedy, he hit a 2-2 pitch over the wall in center to even the score at 8-all.
In a world in which justice followed drama, Reyes’ homer would have rallied the Indians to a victory, either in the ninth or in extra innings. This is not such a world. Kennedy retired Jason Kipnis for the third out, and Ryan O’Hearn opened the 10th with a home run off Nick Goody to put Kansas City back on top.
In the bottom of the 10th, Kansas City’s Jorge Lopez ensured there would be no more heroics, setting down the side in order.