You are the New York Yankees. You are playing the Rays and you’re up by one in the seventh inning with runners in scoring position (2nd and 3rd). You’re pitching to Roco Baldelli (a right handed hitter), currently hitting .263 (.456 with men in scoring position) – and you intentionally walk him to load the bases – so you can pitch to Brendan Harris (another right handed hitter), currently hitting .324 (.600 with men in scoring position). Huh?
It worked out for NY (sort of). Harris got all of a line drive – that the Yankee SS made a diving play on, getting the out.
Too bad the next batter was Carl Crawford – who has been on a tear tonight – who hit a grand slam.
Go RAYS!