It’s always fascinating when something happens for the first time in MLB history. That history dates back to the 1876 founding of the National League (with the history of some clubs, particularly the Cincinnati Reds, going back further), and given the amount of MLB games played each year, most things have happened at least once before. What Cleveland Guardians’ first baseman Josh Naylor did in the late innings of their road game Monday night against the Chicago White Sox had not, though. Naylor hit a RBI double in the eighth, then, with the Guardians trailing 8-4 in the top of the ninth (and this was after they’d already scored two runs in that half-inning; they entered it down 8-2), came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. And he promptly smacked a grand slam to center field (which he’s seen celebrating above):
BAPTIZE THAT PITCH.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/OnkBrYiqdF
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 10, 2022
But Naylor was just getting started. In the bottom of the ninth, he made an excellent scoop at first base of a throw from José Ramírez to end the White Sox’s chances of winning before extra innings (they also got the bases loaded with two outs, but couldn’t cash in):
José with the diving stop.
Naylor with the scoop. @CleGuardians mean business 💪 pic.twitter.com/M4Ln5mu8WS
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) May 10, 2022
And in the top of the 11th, Naylor hit a three-run homer that made the score 12-9 Guardians, the eventual final.
Josh Naylor has 8 runs batted in tonight.
King stuff. 👑#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/ErwoAXkBUg
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 10, 2022
As STATS noted, no MLB player had previously hit two 3-plus-run home runs in the ninth inning or later of a single game:
Josh Naylor of the @CleGuardians is the first player in MLB history to hit two 3+ run homers in the 9th inning or later in the same game.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 10, 2022
And as MLB’s Sarah Langs relayed, no one had generated 8+ RBI in the eighth inning or later since RBI became an official stat in 1920:
AMAZING update from @EliasSports:
Josh Naylor is the first player to record 8+ RBI in a game in the 8th inning or later since RBI became official (1920) https://t.co/PCC0TSr6l4
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 10, 2022
Naylor, from Mississauga, ON, also tied some Canadian baseball history:
Congratulations to @JoshNaylor44 on tying the Canadian single game RBI record with eight last night.
Others:
Mike Saunders June 17, 2016
Jason Bay July 2, 2004
Jason Bay Sept 19, 2003
Larry Walker Apr 28, 1999
George Selkirk Aug 12, 1938
George Selkirk August 10, 1935 pic.twitter.com/Ysk9sN5UHF— Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum 🇨🇦⚾️ (@CDNBaseballHOF) May 10, 2022
And he had quite the celebration, yelling “I want all the smoke!” as he returned to the dugout:
Josh Naylor has that dawg in him. 😤
(via @Fanatlc1) pic.twitter.com/iUXupnhZZw
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 10, 2022
That was an amazing night for Naylor, and it helped cap his long return from ankle surgery last year. And it was an incredible comeback for the Guardians.
There's having a game, and then there's what Josh Naylor did last night.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/rhG1u9VNbM
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 10, 2022
The White Sox had a 99.7% chance of winning after Steven Kwan grounded into a fielder's choice in the top of the 9th inning.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/7HIGkMEkx4
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 10, 2022
And that’s part of a run of remarkable comebacks across MLB in the past week:
On May 5, the @Mets trailed by 6+ runs in the 9th on the road and came back to win. Tonight, the @CleGuardians did the same thing.
It's the first time in the modern era that happened twice within a week of each other.
It hadn't happened twice over an entire season since 1937.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) May 10, 2022
[The Akron Beacon-Journal; photo from Matt Marton/USA Today Sports]
