5 best walk-off home runs of the 2019 MLB season
Kevin Newman slugs one for Blass – WPA: 0.84
The Pirates’ beloved broadcaster Steve Blass was sent outright, as Kevin Newman belted a scorching line drive over the left-field wall, winning the game for Pittsburgh.
(skip to 0:20 for walk-off)
The situation: Its Game 1 of the final regular-season series for the Pirates, a contest at home with just over 18,000 fans in attendance. Despite such a poor showing, it was Blass’ final weekend calling Pirates’ games and a September, Friday night Buccos’ fans will always remember.
The Reds had jumped out to a 2-0 lead to start off the game thanks to an error and fielder’s choice in the top of the 1st. The Reds added two more runs in the 5th, but the Pirates scored two of their own in the bottom of the inning from a two-run homer… by none other than Kevin Newman (a home run worth 0.16 WPA itself).
After another Reds’ run in the top of the 8th, the Pirates entered the bottom half of the 9th inning down 5-4, their last chance to come back, again.
The Reds’ Raisel Iglesias was on the mound and he quickly allowed a single to Jake Elmore, followed by a wild pitch that gave Elmore time to advance to second. Iglesias settled down, though, forcing back-to-back groundouts off the bat of Erik Gonzalez and Melky Cabrera, putting two outs on the board and giving way for Newman to become the hero.
Newman came to the plate with the Pirates having just a 16% win expectancy, as the Reds were in an outstanding situation to come away with the win. Although, fortunately for the Pirates, Iglesias wasn’t the same pitcher as he was in 2018. The hard-throwing righty was struggling, and Newman worked a 1-1 count.
On the third pitch of the at-bat, Iglesias grooved an 84 mph pitch right down broadway and Newman jumped all over it, slapping a scorching shot just high enough to clear the left-field wall. Pirates win 6-5.
Newman’s first home run (0.16 WPA) and game-winning homer (0.84) accounted for all of the Pirates’ positive WPA that Friday night, meaning you could honestly say he truly won the game all by himself!