Entering the bottom of the seventh inning in a 2-2 game against the Cleveland Guardians, Yankees outfielder Willie Calhoun had nine hits and just 10 total bases on the season. He had only three RBI on the year as well, and was still looking for his first home run in pinstripes.
But when Calhoun finally got that homer, he became the hero of the night for the Yankees.
Facing Guardians setup man James Karinchak, Calhoun fell behind in the count, 0-2. But after starting the at-bat with two fastballs, Karinchak decided to go with his nasty curveball. The problem was he didn’t throw it where he wanted.
Throwing down and in to a left-handed batter usually doesn’t end well for a pitcher, but that’s exactly where Karinchak’s curveball ended up, and Calhoun didn’t miss it. He hit a screaming line drive, with a 106.2 mph exit velocity and a 19 degree launch angle, into the short porch in right for a go-ahead home run.
Calhoun hit his first home run since April 11, 2022, when he was still with the Texas Rangers. Most importantly, it gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. After scoring an insurance run in the eighth inning, New York hung on for a 4-2 win to snap a four-game losing streak.
Here’s Calhoun’s postgame interview with Yankees field reporter Meredith Marakovits:
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