Five best walk-off home runs of the 2019 MLB season
By Clint Manry
5 best walk-off home runs of the 2019 MLB season
Rio Ruiz’s second HR in two days is a game-winner – WPA: 0.90
Down a run in the final inning of an August 11 matchup against the Houston Astros, Rio Ruiz hits his second homer in as many days, giving the Orioles the upset win.
The situation: The Orioles actually jumped out in front of Justin Verlander and the Astros in the first inning, thanks to another former Brave, Jace Peterson, who hit a run-scoring line-drive double down the right-field line. However, Houston scored three runs in their half of the 2nd.
Baltimore answered back in the bottom of the 2nd inning, from Trey Mancini‘s RBI single to left, cutting the Orioles deficient to just one (3-2). Two more runs in the 5th and a run in the 6th, gave the Orioles a nice cushion, as Peterson struck again with an RBI triple, Hanser Alberto a sac-fly and Mancini another RBI single. Orioles lead 5-3.
But a 7th-inning RBI groundout by Houston’s Jose Altuve cut the lead to just one, and then a three-run triple by Michael Brantley in the top of the 9th gave the Astros a two-run advantage (7-5) going into the final half-inning. The Orioles were left with a difficult task: score three runs while being forced to face the Astros’ Robert Osuna.
The bottom of the 9th started out promising, as Peterson once again came through for Baltimore, slapping a double to left. Richie Martin came to bat next and moved Peterson to third with a groundout. Osuna then hit Chance Sisco on the second pitch of the at-bat, putting runners on the corners with just one out.
Chris Davis came up next and on a 1-0 pitch popped up to left field, giving Peterson enough time to score on the sac-fly, but giving Baltimore just one more out to work with. With Ruiz coming to plate, the Orioles had just a 10% win expectancy and their luck was fading.
Ruiz fought off a few pitches, working the count 2-2, and on the seventh pitch of the at-bat Osuna tries to go to the outside corner with something soft, but it catches too much of the plate at just 85 mph… Ruiz quickly turns on it and nearly drives it out of the stadium. Orioles win, 8-7, improving their record to just 39-78 in front of a crowd of just 17,000. It’s easily the biggest home run of Ruiz’s career, a career including just 14 homers for the 25-year-old.