I had a chance to experience one of baseball’s most exciting endings this weekend, on consecutive days no less! The walk-off, game winning home run. When it comes to dramatic moments, it’s really hard to beat. The home run in itself is such a crowd pleaser. Remember the commercial “Chick’s dig the long ball”? Nuff said! But when they’re hit in “walk-off ” fashion, even better!
The April 23 game between the White Sox and Mariners ended when Andruw Jones hit his second home run of the night with two outs in bottom of the 9th to bring the White Sox back from what looked like a tough loss and turn it into their first dramatic win of the weekend.
Then, not to be out done, Alex Rios came through the next afternoon in dramatic fashion as well, again with two out in the ninth, this time off of David Aardsma to give the White Sox their second walk-off win in as many games. This feat might be rarer than a no-hitter. In fact, the last time the White Sox accomplished that feat was way back in 1967. Wild trivia note about that pair of back-to-back walk-off winners, they came on opposite ends of a double-header!
There have only been 39 walk-off game ending home runs hit at U.S. Cellular Field since it opened in 1991.
Of course, who can forget the most significant walk-off home run ever hit at U.S. Cellular?
Or Jim Thome’s 500th home run?
What a fun weekend! The only thing that would have really made it even better would have been if Paul Konerko had hit his game winning home run in the 9th inning on Sunday. What were the odds? No complaints here, though! A sweep is always nice, no matter how you get there!
