Aaron Judge’s first career walk-off hit sent the Yankees to the 2021 postseason, but it was Tyler Wade, who entered the game as a pinch-runner for Rougned Odor, who completed the play by scoring the winning run from third base despite a drawn-in infield.
“I was going on contact, and my mindset was to get a good enough jump to be able to beat the throw,” Wade said. “The ball went our way that time, and I was able to score. I was hyped. The stadium was rocking today and it was an adrenaline rush; to be able to accomplish that at home was amazing.”
Wade only spent half an inning in the game, but he made a huge impact, starting when he tagged up on Gleyber Torres’ deep fly ball to center field and advanced from first to second with one out in the ninth.
“The moment I saw (Brett Phillips) take three or steps back I knew I had to go, because (Josh) Fleming is quick to the plate and it’s hard to steal a bag off him, especially with (Mike) Zunino behind the plate,” Wade said. “The moment I saw it go up, off the bat, I knew I had to tag.”
Wade could have scored on Anthony Rizzo’s bullet line drive single to right field, which saw Randy Arozarena’s throw go up the line – and while manager Aaron Boone had said he was worried a good throw would have had Wade dead to rights, the speedster was confident and ready to try until third base coach Phil Nevin threw up the stop sign.
“I had a pretty good idea where the D was and I went on contact, so I was scoring until Phil held me up,” Wade smiled.
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Alas, Wade came home on Judge’s walk-off…and it brought the two men, who share a very close relationship, full circle into the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
“That’s my guy, and it’s crazy for all the milestones he has that it was his first walk-off,” Wade smiled. “But that’s the guy you want up in that situation; he works his butt off every day, and I know how much he cares about this team and this city, so it was awesome for him to be able to do that.”
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