“I wanted the opportunity”
That’s what rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe said of his final at-bat after the Yankees’ 6-5 comeback win over the Orioles on Tuesday night.
With the score tied 5-5 in the 10th inning, Volpe came up with one out and men on the corners. The Orioles had just intentionally walked DH Willie Calhoun to set up the potential double play and extend the game.
The 22-year-old came into Tuesday’s game batting just .212 and hitting just 3-for-14 in his last four starts. He was also 0-for-4 heading into that at-bat on Tuesday, so getting a ground ball seemed likely from the Orioles’ standpoint. But like he’s done for most of the season, Volpe didn’t allow the moment to get too big.
Not trying to do too much, Volpe got a Bryan Baker pitch he could lift into the outfield and launched a 96-mph fastball to deep center field for the sac fly and the Yankees win.
“Anthony had the right approach there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Middle of the diamond, get the ball in the air, something to elevate. Put the right swing and we were able to get one tonight.”
Boone added, “It has been fun to navigate this [season] with all eyes on [Volpe] and he handles everything so well. Has a good head on his shoulders, knows how to play. He’s advanced in his approach and makeup and felt like the right guy right there.”
The Yankees were down 4-0 to the Orioles early in Tuesday's game before they stormed back to tie it in the fifth inning. But after Baltimore retook the lead, Aaron Judge’s ninth-inning homer with two outs tied the game to send it to extra innings where Volpe eventually won it.