Massive Anthony Rizzo HR, bat flip save Yankees from Josh Donaldson embarrassment

The Bronx is rocking. The New York Yankees have a 4-1 lead over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the ALDS thanks to a solo home run from Harrison Bader, a sac fly from Jose Trevino, and two-run homer off the bat of Anthony Rizzo. Neither blast was a cheapie, either.

Bader’s was a rocket line drive that cleared the left field wall and Rizzo’s was a second-deck moonshot. More importantly, Rizzo’s gave the Yankees a three-run lead, provided Gerrit Cole with the necessary support, and saved Josh Donaldson from further embarrassment.

The inning prior, Donaldson thought he had a homer of his own after poking one out toward the short porch. He admired it as he jogged out of the box, he was high-fived by the team’s first base coach, and the stadium started playing music to celebrate an apparent home run.

But the ball hit the top of the wall, came back into play, and Donaldson was thrown out after being hung up between first and second base. He put his head down and began his home run trot, only to be shocked when he was caught in a pickle.

We can blame every other circumstance we want, but the fact of the matter is if Donaldson just started running out of the box the moment he hit the ball, he could’ve had himself a double. Or he would’ve held himself up at first if he saw the right fielder rocket the ball into second base as he made the turn. To assume that was a homer without an umpire signal, and the fact he watched the ball come back into play without properly reacting was egregious.

Thankfully, we have a Rizzo homer and massive bat flip to save us from what could’ve been lingering embarrassment.

Anthony Rizzo’s home run saved the Yankees from Josh Donaldson’s embarrassment

This alternate angle should have you losing your mind, too.

Rizzo drove in Aaron Judge, who walked, stole second and then moved to third on a throwing error. Great work by everyone.

As for Donaldson, though he won’t be the butt end of the joke for long, he still has to swallow everything that’s circulating on social media from that fifth-inning blunder.

Maybe it’s time to stop doing this. Run on contact. It’s postseason baseball. Unless it’s an absolute no-doubter, it doesn’t deserve a trot or showboat of any sort. You’d think of all players, Donaldson would understand that by now after he’s been wrong on multiple occasions when judging similar fly balls this season.

Easy enough, though; he’ll just owe Rizzo a cold one after the game.

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