The Tampa Bay Rays were dealt their first two losses of the season over the weekend, and yet, they still are finding new ways to win.
Trying to avoid a sweep, the Rays took a commanding 8-1 lead into the home half of the ninth inning at Rogers Centre. While Toronto was still four batters down in the lineup card from bringing the tying run to the plate, the Blue Jays were attempting to start a rally.
With runners on first and second and one down, former Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier came to the plate with a chance to make Sunday’s game a bit closer. Instead, Jason Adam had other ideas.
The 31-year-old right-hander made a terrific behind-the-back catch as Kiermaier ripped one up the middle. Adam put his glove up as a reflex and somehow instinctively was able to pick off a shot right back up the middle and double Whit Merrifield off second base.
A behind-the-back catch to end the game! 😱 pic.twitter.com/lApcPfu83O
— MLB (@MLB) April 16, 2023
Kiermaier was left in utter amazement and could be seen mouthing the word, “Wow,” multiple times, as he stood with his hands on his hips. Adam was able to make a no-look behind-the-back catch and all he could do was crack a smile at his former teammate.
Talk about the ultimate ending to a game.
The MLB world reacted to the insane finish on social media:
Wow. Wow. https://t.co/02t4AqBlLp
— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) April 17, 2023
Ended it in style https://t.co/owntF6gUh5
— Alex Whitehair (@realgametakes) April 17, 2023
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/vIh5eC7WPu
— Juan Carlos Veraza (@JCVeraza) April 16, 2023
— Mike Olbinski (@MikeOlbinski) April 16, 2023
Can’t. Stop. Watching. https://t.co/4EjnzE51D6
— Mitch Carr (@mitchcarrtv) April 16, 2023
[MLB]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.