BY KYLE BRAVIN
With the postponement of the 2020 MLB season, fans are searching for baseball to watch this time of year. Until the season continues, here are 10 classic games to rewatch.
Orioles vs.. Yankees — Sept. 25, 2014
What makes it great: Derek Jeter plays his final game at Yankee Stadium.
Highlights:
- Orioles left fielder Alejandro De Aza goes two-for-four on the night with his eighth home run of the year.
- Yankees starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda goes eight innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits while striking out nine.
- Jeter hits a walk-off single to score pinch runner Antoan Richardson in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Watch it: youtu.be/5tC5p1tfdDQ
Cubs vs. Phillies — Aug. 15, 2019
What makes it great: Bryce Harper hits a walk-off grand slam.
Highlights:
- Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish goes seven innings, giving up zero earned runs on four hits while striking out 10.
- Phillies left fielder Corey Dickerson goes two-for-four on the night with a double and one RBI.
- Harper hits a walk-off grand slam off Cubs’ pitcher Derek Holland in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Watch it: Free on MLB.tv
Braves vs. Mets — Sept. 28, 2019
What makes it great: Pete Alonso breaks the rookie home run record.
Highlights:
- Mets catcher Rene Rivera hits his first home run of the season off Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz and goes two-for-three on the night.
- Braves left fielder Adam Duvall goes two-for-four on the night with his first triple of the season off Mets pitcher Steven Matz.
- Alonso, the Mets’ first baseman, breaks Aaron Judge’s single-season rookie home run record with his 53rd of the season off Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz.
Watch it: Free on MLB.tv
Reds vs. Pirates — April 8, 2018
What makes it great: Jameson Taillon throws a complete game one-hitter.
Highlights:
- Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco goes two-for-four on the day, scoring once and driving in two runs. His third home run of the season comes in the fifth inning.
- Reds pitcher Tyler Mahle gets his first loss of the season, giving up five runs over nine hits in 4.2 innings.
- Pirates pitcher Taillon goes nine strong innings, giving up only one hit, no runs and striking out seven in the complete game effort.
Watch it: Free on MLB.tv
Red Sox vs. Dodgers — October 28, 2018
What makes it great: The Red Sox win the 2018 World Series in Game 5, their first championship since 2013.
Highlights:
- Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale seals the deal for his team, striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth inning.
- Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw is dealt the loss after giving up four earned runs in seven innings of work.
- Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce is named World Series MVP after notching two home runs — one in the first inning and another in the eighth.
Watch it: Free on MLB.TV
Red Sox vs. Yankees — Oct. 1, 2015
What makes it great: The Yankees get their 10,000th franchise win and clinch their first playoff berth since 2012.
Highlights:
- Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia gets his sixth win of the season, going five innings and giving up only one earned run on six hits.
- Red Sox center fielder Mookie Betts goes two-for-four on the night with one RBI. Betts drives in the only run on the night for the Red Sox.
- Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances gets his ninth save of the season with a one-two-three top of the ninth inning, striking out two of the batters.
Watch it: youtu.be/xRiNsmNT4yg
Cardinals vs. Mets — June 1, 2012
What makes it great: Johan Santana throws the first and only no-hitter in Mets history.
Highlights:
- Mets right fielder Lucas Duda hits the only home run of the game in the sixth inning off Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright. It marks Duda’s eighth home run of the season.
- Mets center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis goes two-for-three on the night with a walk. He scores three out of the Mets’ eight total runs.
- Santana goes nine innings, giving up no runs and no hits. He strikes out eight batters and walks five to get his third win of the season.
Watch it: youtu.be/rZrpSpMLBSc
Cubs vs. Pirates — July 3, 2019
What makes it great: Josh Bell breaks Albert Pujols’ record for extra base hits before the All-Star break.
Highlights:
- Pirates right fielder Melky Cabrera goes three-for-four on the day, adding a home run and a double. He drives in two runs in and scores once himself.
- Craig Kimbrel takes the loss for the Cubs, giving up two earned runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
- With his 26th home run of the season, Bell hits his 59th extra-base hit before the All-Star break, breaking Pujols’ previous record of 58.
Watch it: Free on MLB.tv
Yankees vs. Red Sox — Oct. 18, 2004
What makes it great: The Red Sox beat the Yankees in 14 innings to force a Game 5 in the American League Championship Series.
Highlights:
- Red Sox starting pitcher Pedro Martinez goes six innings, giving up four earned runs and striking out six.
- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has three RBIs on the night, with one double in his eight plate appearances.
- Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz punches a bloop single into the outfield, scoring center fielder Johnny Damon to break the tie in the bottom of the 14th inning.
Watch it: youtu.be/4Ttjci5KPQo
Rays vs. Phillies — Oct. 27, 2008
What makes it great: The Phillies win their second World Series title in franchise history.
Highlights:
- Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth goes two-for-three on the night with one run scored and one RBI. Werth also added a stolen base to his stat line.
- Third baseman Pedro Feliz goes two-for-four for the Rays with one RBI.
- Phillies relief pitcher Brad Lidge closes it out for them, throwing a scoreless top of the ninth inning.
Watch it: youtu.be/GKX9rmeMgUU
Contact the writer: kbravin@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127
