In October, Randy Arozarena has returned to shine… and to run. The Cuban became the first player to hit a home run and steal the plate in a postseason game, and the Tampa Bay Rays shut out the Boston Red Sox 5-0 Thursday in the game that kicked off the series. American League divisional.
Arozarena, the revelation last October, ran spectacularly to the plate in the seventh inning for the first steal from home plate in the playoffs since Jackie Robinson did it with the Brooklyn Dodgers against Yogi Berra and the New York Yankees in the Series. World Cup 1955, according to the television channel FS1.
“I noticed that the pitcher wasn’t really paying much attention to me. So I took advantage and was able to take the base, “said Arozarena. “This is the first time I have stolen home plate.”
Rookie starter Shane McClanahan was victorious with five fantastic innings. Nelson Cruz hit a homerun, also for Tampa Bay.
The second game of the series to a maximum of five will take place this Friday. Chris Sale is regarded as Boston’s starter, facing rookie Shane Baz.
Another who shone during his playoff debut was Wander Franco. The Dominican landed an RBI double that Arozarena, the speedy star of the 2020 postseason, took advantage of to score early and put the defending American League champions in a quick lead.
Arozarena, 26, still considered a rookie despite his playoff mark of 10 homers and 29 hits in 20 games a year ago, capped off his thrilling performance by stealing the plate from Boston reliever Josh Taylor to put the scoreboard on 5. -0 in the seventh inning.
“I think there is just something wrong with me, you know. I’m just trying to focus a little bit more, ”Arozarena said, when asked why he excels in the playoffs. “Luckily it happens to me in October, that means we are closer to the World Series.”
The last player to have stolen home plate in any playoff game was Puerto Rican Javier Báez, who did it for the Chicago Cubs, in the first game of the National League Championship Series in 2016, against the Los Dodgers. Angels
The loss went to Venezuelan left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez, who allowed two runs and a pair of hits in one and two-thirds inning, during which he walked a pair.
For the Red Sox, Puerto Ricans Enrique Hernández 4-0 and Christian Vázquez 4-0. The Dominican Rafael Devers 4-1.
For the Rays, Cubans Randy Arozarena 2-1, three runs, one produced, and Yandy Diaz 3-1, one RBI. The Dominicans Wander Franco 4-2, one scored, one RBI; Nelson Cruz 4-1, one scored, one RBI, and Manuel Margot 2-0. AP (HN)