Randy Arozarena stole home and the show

October 9, 2021

The right-handed pitcher he outsmarted and the left-handed one he stole home on. October is here, and Randy Arozarena (2-1, HR, RBI, 3R, 2BB, .500) has put on those cowboy boots he trains in again because they bring him luck. It was in Tampa where he set the stands on fire at Tropicana Field and tormented the Red Sox, who ended up torn and faded by the Rays, 5 to 0.

The party started early. Opening the lineup, he worked a walk at the start of the game, a detail that showed control and patience amid that explosiveness that comes out of his pores. Up came the second batter, young Dominican Wander Franco (4-2, 2 2B, RBI, R, .500), and he sent a line drive that the center fielder got tangled in, moments that would be enough for Arozarena to hit the accelerator and, rounding third base, not stop until scoring the first run of the game.

Two outs later, it was Yandy Díaz's turn (3-1, RBI, BB, .333). The guy from Sagua la Grande hit a hard grounder to third, and there he goes throwing himself headfirst into home, forcing the umpire to open his arms wide in a safe call. He thus recorded an infield hit and, in passing, an RBI.

In the third, another Dominican, veteran Nelson Cruz (4-1, HR, RBI, R, .250), sent a ball off the roof of the old Tropicana Field and circled the bases. And it was then, with the game at three to nothing, when Randy Arozarena stole the show.

In the fifth, on a full count, he got his hands on a fastball that right-hander Pivetta (4.2IP, 2HR, 3ER, 4H, 4K, 2BB, 5.79) threw at his body, and only the stands kept the bat from ending up in one of the parking lots surrounding the stadium. People remembered the apotheosis of last fall—10 home runs in 20 at-bats—and celebrated as if there hadn't been winter, spring, or summer in between.

Then, in the seventh, came the moment of moments.

Our man on third, two outs, left-hander Taylor (0.1IP, 0.00) on the mound, standing sideways, turning his back. In the batter's box, another left-hander, Lowe (4-0, .000), prompts the Boston third-base coach to load up toward the left side. With no one covering it, Arozarena gains ground toward home, measures the pitcher, who takes his time with his delivery before throwing. He asks permission from the third-base coach, who gives him the signal. He then looks at his manager in the dugout, Chacumbele Cash. Cash gives him the green light and, before the next pitch, Arozarena launches himself like a flash toward home plate.

He threw himself headfirst, and there was no doubt: he became the first player in postseason history to record both a home run and a stolen home in the same game.

The stadium chanted his name over and over again, even when he came out of the dugout to take left field.

The Rays excelled in defense and pitched flawlessly—McClanahan (1-0, 5IP, 5H, 3K, 0.00), Chargois (IP, H, 0.00), Robertson (IP, 0.00), and Feyereisen (IP, 3H, 2K, 0.00)—but the night belonged to Arozarena, whose plays eclipsed even what happened in Houston.

There, Yordan Álvarez (3-2, HR, 2B, 2RBI, 2R, BB, K, .667) displayed all his power and his eye at the plate, and recorded a home run and a double, the Astros' only two extra-base hits, which thanks also to the pitching of their starter with the literary name, McCullers (1-0, 6.2IP, 4H, 4K, 0.00), was barely needed more. Yuli Gurriel (4-0, 3K, .000) struck out three times, something that only happened to him twice during the regular season, but it didn't matter. The best offense in the show imposed its rules against a White Sox team that will need to get serious if they want to advance.

Luis Robert (3-2, .667) got two singles and took a hit by pitch, "Pito" Abreu (4-2, RBI, .500) also got two hits and drove in Chicago's only run, Grandal (4-0, K, .000) went hitless, and Moncada (3-1, BB, .333) hit the ball hard and put on a defensive show at third base. The game, however, slipped away from them quickly, decided perhaps even before the first pitch was thrown: starter Lynn (3.2IP, 5ER, 6H, 4K, 2BB, 12.27) throws more fastballs than anyone, and the Astros are the team that hits fastballs best. The final score was locked in at 6 to 1.

In summary: the laurels of the day go to the one who received and acted on the green light, and to the one with the extra-base hits in Houston.

In total: the Red Sox manager has announced that it's very likely J. D. Martínez will be in Boston's lineup for the next game, after injuring his leg in the final game of the regular season. "Pito" Abreu, for his part, is still dealing with the flu, though he wasn't on the bench last night and doesn't seem like he will be today either.