MLB Rankings: The greatest hits of the season’s final week
By Bill Felber
MLB Rankings: Greatest Hits of the Final Week
8. Anthony Alford, Toronto Blue Jays, 46 percent
What could possibly make an extra-inning, late-season game between two sub-.500 teams interesting? How about four rallies in the ninth inning or later?
That’s what the Orioles and Blue Jays gave what remained of the 13,000 who paid to get into Rogers Centre Monday. Baltimore led 9-7 with one out in the ninth when Cavan Biggio’s fly ball sent Jonathan Davis across the plate. One batter later, Vlad Guerrero Jr. singled to center, scoring Alford, pinch-running for Billy McKinney and tying the game.
That was not, however, Alford’s biggest moment. In fact, the fun was only starting. In the top of the 12th, Chris Davis homered to put Baltimore ahead 10-9. In the bottom of the inning, Guerrero reached on an error and came around to score on Jonathan Davis’ fly ball.
Alford tried to spark a conclusion in the bottom of the 13th. He led off the inning with a base hit, then stole second to put the winner in scoring position with none out. But Ryan Eades got an inning-ending double play to erase that threat.
Eades would not be so fortunate the second time he met up with Alford. After Eades retired the first two Jays, Alford teed up a 2-2 fastball and sent it into the seats in left field. The home run, delivered at nearly half past midnight, ended the game.