World Series Game 4: The 10 most decisive moments in MLB history
By Bill Felber
8. Tino Martinez, 2001 New York Yankees. The Arizona Diamondbacks led the Series two-games-to-one and looked to be on the verge of a third victory through eight innings of Game Four at Yankee Stadium. The D-Backs, in only their fourth season, led 3-1 when manager Bob Brenly summoned closer Byung-Hyun Kim to replace Curt Schilling for the final six outs.
Kim was a 22-year-old Korean in his third season with the team who had saved 19 games despite one flaw, a predilection to throw the long ball. He had allowed 19 home runs in 98 innings of work. But his strikeout pitch was the dominant weapon, and he sailed through the eighth fanning Shane Spencer, Scott Brosius and Alfonso Soriano in order.
Paul O’Neill’s one-out single brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Kim responded by making Bernie Williams his fourth strikeout victim. That left Martinez as the Yankees’ final hope. Martinez drilled Kim’s first pitch into the seats in deep right-center, tying the game at 3-3.
One inning later, Derek Jeter would end it with a second home run off Kim, although Arizona claimed the Series itself in seven games. Martinez Win Probability Added: 49 percent.
7. Devon White, 1993 Toronto Blue Jays. The highest scoring game in World Series history took place Oct. 20, 1993 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. The Toronto Blue Jays won it 15-14 and White, in the midst of a Series for the ages, was the hero.
In that evening’s offensive maelstrom, White had already walked, singled, doubled and scored twice when the decisive eighth inning began. To that moment, though, White’s heroics had gone largely unnoticed since the home team held a 14-9 lead and appeared securely on the way to a Series-evening victory.
One of the biggest single-inning rallies in Series history began with a whimper when Roberto Alomar grounded out. But Joe Carter singled, John Olerud walked and Paul Molitor reached on a Dave Hollins error at third, allowing Carter to score.
With his team’s lead reduced to four runs, Phillies manager Jim Fregosi summoned his closer, Mitch Williams, face Tony Fernandez. But he singled, scoring Olerud, and Pat Borders followed with another base on balls. After Williams struck out Ed Sprague, Rickey Henderson lined a base hit into left scoring Molitor and Fernandez and pulling the Jays within a single run.
White was next and Williams, protecting a one-run lead, got him into a 1-2 hole. But his fourth pitch got too much of the plate, and White drove it into the gap past Lenny Dykstra in right-center for a two-run go-ahead double.
Jays relievers Mike Timlin and Duane Ward took it from there, nailing down Toronto’s 3-1 Series edge. They would win it on Joe Carter’s famous Game 6 home, of which more will be said in a later installment. White Win Probability Added: 51 percent.