The Yankees are alive, in part, because of Ryan McMahon.
The third baseman is happy to report that he, too, is alive.
“I thought he was dead,” said Austin Wells, who had the best view of a play that will be remembered for a long time — especially if this Yankees season ends with more champagne than was sprayed Thursday after the 4-0 series-winner against Boston in The Bronx.
Playing the part of Derek Jeter in the deciding Game 3 was McMahon, who sacrificed his body, tumbled across enemy lines, never lost the ball and lived to tell the tale.
“Adrenaline kind of kicked in,” said McMahon, who subbed in as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning, was shifted over with lefty-swinging Jarren Duran at the plate in the eighth and embarked on a long sprint toward the visiting dugout on a pop-up in foul territory.
McMahon slowed his momentum a touch a couple of steps from the railing but never looked down, his eyes trained on the ball. As he hit the padded railing he made the catch for the second out of the inning and flipped, head over cleats, into the Red Sox dugout.
“Didn’t really feel anything,” McMahon said. “I’m sure I hit everything in that dugout, though.”
As the crowd erupted — and surely had flashbacks to Jeter flying into the stands in 2004 against these same Red Sox — the Yankees panicked.
“I came sprinting out of the dugout because I knew it could be dangerous over there,” manager Aaron Boone said.
“It happened so quick,” Anthony Volpe said.
“I was so worried for him,” said Wells, and the manager, shortstop and catcher all ran over to try to help McMahon.
But before anyone else could reach the dugout, the third baseman was on his feet, leaving Red Sox territory and jogging back toward third base.
“He bounced right up, and he was fine,” Wells said. “I was like, ‘Holy s–t, that was crazy.’ ”
McMahon has not hit much since arriving from the Rockies at the trade deadline, did not start against opposing lefty Connelly Early and did not pinch hit for righty Amed Rosario when Boston had righty Justin Slater on the mound in the fifth.
That’s just fine with the Yankees, who are counting on the rest of their lineup hitting enough (particularly Rosario against lefties) and relying upon McMahon’s glove and perhaps guts.
McMahon smiled and confirmed he does remember that Jeter play, but he would not entertain comparisons.
“We’re not going to do that,” the 30-year-old said. “Completely different scale.”
Still, the scale of this one was significant. It helped the Yankees advance to the ALDS.
Where does this rank among the best plays McMahon has ever made?
“That’s a tough one, man,” he said. “When the games really matter like this, it means a lot more.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
