New York Yankees: You May Not See An Ending Like That For 30 Years
May 11, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (22) is tagged out trying to score by Houston Astros catcher Brian McCann (16) to end the game during the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

For the New York Yankees, the style in which Thursday night’s game with the Houston Astros ended carried some historical obscurity. 

The New York Yankees put their 11th loss in the right column on Thursday night but would not fall to the Houston Astros without a fight.



With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Aaron Hicks on first base, Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury lined a single down the left field line to advance Hicks to third. Ater Ellsbury stole second, New York had put the game-tying run in scoring position for Gary Sanchez.

The Yankees’ catcher then smacked a single to left field, scoring Hicks to make it 3-2 before third-base coach Joe Espada waved Ellsbury home in an attempt to tie the game. Astros left fielder Jake Marisnick however, fired a perfect strike to former Yankee Brian McCann from the outfield to nab the speedy Ellsbury to end the contest.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked the first time the Yankees had the tying run thrown out at home to end a contest since August 12, 1987, in a 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals at the old Yankee Stadium.

Pinch runner Wayne Tolleson thrown out at the dish attempting to score on a double by Roberto Kelly off Charlie Leibrandt.

“You have to take that shot. It took a perfect throw to get him,” manager Joe Girardi said following the loss. “If there’s less than two outs, you don’t do it. But that’s the right call and he made a perfect throw.”

It took Ellsbury just 6.85 seconds, according to Statcast, to get from second to home, so it certainly needed a perfect throw from Marisnik to nab him and take down the team that has already recorded nine come-from-behind wins.