What a season it was! With the 2018 season in the books it is time to take a final look back at the year that was by remembering the top moments of the season. These moments are in the order they happened.
March 28: Vlad Jr.’s Montreal Walk-Off
Our first moment doesn’t even come from a regular season game. On March 28 the Toronto Blue Jays played an exhibition game vs. the St. Louis Cardinals at Olympic Stadium in Montreal to close out their spring training slate of games. With the game in a scoreless tie in the 10th inning the top prospect in baseball, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came to bat to a raucous ovation. Guerrero’s father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr. was a star for the now defunct Montreal Expos from 1996-2003. In a storybook-type moment, Guerrero Jr. hit a game-winning home run to win the game in the city his father starred in. It was an exhibition game with a lot of meaning for the city of Montreal, as they lobby to get the Expos back next time the MLB expands.
April 8: Andrew McCutchen has 6 Hits and a Walk-off
Five-time all-star Andrew McCutchen has enjoyed an outstanding career, including a NL MVP in 2013, but he was at the top of his game on April 8 this season. Playing the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants found themselves down 5-4 in the bottom of the 13th inning. The Giants mounted a rally by putting two runners on. In stepped Mccutcheon, who had five hits in the game already. Locked in 12 pitch at bat McCutchen fouled off 7 two-strike pitches. Finally McCutchen got a pitch to drive and he drilled a three-run walk off home run, becoming the first player since 1969 and only the second player since 1900 to have six hits and a walk-of homerun in one game (mlb.com).
April 17: Lindor hits emotional home run in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico native Francisco Lindor hit a two-run home run in the Indians 6-1 win over the Twins, becoming just the 7th native to homer in Puerto Rico’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium (usatoday.com). A hurricane-devastated country got the stadium ready for the series between the Indians and Twins, and their efforts were rewarded when their native son homered to a deafening ovation. The Indians donated $37,000 to hurricane relief efforts and Lindor visited his former elementary school earlier in the day (usatoday.com).
Full Count 