The Juice: Jason Giambi, Andrelton Simmons highlight a history-making night of walk-offs
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It was a short schedule on Monday, but despite just nine games being played, MLB teams managed something that had never been done before.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Monday was the first time in history there were three walk-off homers and a walk-off triple in the same night. Here's a look at the four walk-off wins:
Indians 3, White Sox 2: Jason Giambi, the old man of the Cleveland Indians, added something cool to his list of old-dude accomplishments: Becoming the oldest player in MLB history to hit a walk-off homer.
Giambi, 42, surpassed Hank Aaron for that honor. Hammerin' Hank did it in 1976. Giambi's blast to centerfield led off the bottom of the ninth inning and gave the Indians a 3-2 win. Afterward, he got a water bath from his Indians teammates and he joked to reporters:
''I might catch pneumonia. I'm a little old to be dunked with water. I love it. I've been preaching all year one guy is not more important than another and it's going to take all 25 of us, even more than that, to win ballgames and we've done it all year. It's just exciting to be a part of it.''
Padres 2, Reds 1: The Cincinnati Reds were in a good position coming into the bottom of the ninth. They were ahead 1-0 with fireballing closer Aroldis Chapman coming in. However, the San Diego Padres took advantage of a walk to Yonder Alonso when pinch hitter Chris Denorfia smacked a two-run, game-winning homer over the centerfield wall.
Braves 9, Rockies 8: Andrelton Simmons delivered an extra-inning triple to plate Dan Uggla in the 10th inning. Uggla had walked to start the inning. Scott Downs, who was traded from the Angels to the Braves on Monday, made his Atlanta debut and got the win, pitching an inning and a third of relief.
Rangers 4, Angels 3: The Rangers took the air out of the Angels with two ninth-inning home runs that erased a 3-2 Angels lead. A.J. Pierzynski struck first to tie the game, then Geovany Soto followed with the game-winning homer.
MORE SCORES
A's 9, Blue Jays 4: Home Run Derby winner Yoenis Cespedes hits a homer and a triple in a 3-for-5 night in which he drives in three runs.
Brewers 5, Cubs 0: The Brewers break a 0-0 game wide open in the top of the ninth with five runs.
Mets 6, Marlins 5: The Mets' three-run seventh innings is the difference here.
Pirates 9, Cardinals 2: Francisco Liriano dominates and Pedro Alvarez hits his NL-leading 27th homer as second-place Pittsburgh creeps to within half a game of St. Louis in the NL Central.
Rays 2, Red Sox 1: The Rays take back first place after beating Boston — but they needed some help from the home plate umpire to do it.
''He's not going to do anything tricky. 'He's going to throw it 100 mph. You have to be ready for the fastball. You have to sit on the fastball. It comes so quickly it's hard for you to do anything with it.''
— Chris Denorfia of the Padres on Reds closer Aroldis Chapman,
off whom he hit the game-winning homer Monday night.
• Yoenis Cespedes' homer Monday night was his first since winning the Home Run Derby.
• Matt Garza made his second start as a Texas Ranger on Monday. He didn't factor in the decision, but gave up three runs on five hits in seven innings while striking out six.
• Jason Giambi is the only active player to have hit a walk-off homer on four different teams — The A's, Yankees, Rockies and now the Indians. (via ESPN Stats & Info)
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