Top 10 Walk-off Wins from the 2011 MLB Season

The start of the Major League Baseball season is just days away. In the spirit of March Madness, I wanted to take a look at baseball’s version of the buzzer-beater, the walk-off. From a come-from-behind win on opening day, to a bad call in the bottom of the 19th inning in July, all the way to the drama of the World Series.

Here are my top 10 walk-off wins from the 2011 season.

10. Opening Day Walk-off Home Run in Cincinnati

The walk-off wins started early in the 2011 MLB season, as there were multiple walk-offs on opening day. In Cincinnati, the Reds trailed the Milwaukee Brewers from the start, as Richie Weeks and Carlos Gomez led the game off with back-to-back homers. Closer John Axford took the mound for the Brewers in the ninth inning with a 6-3 lead. 

After the Reds cut the lead to 6-4, Ramon Hernandez stepped to the plate with two runners on and two outs. He took Axford deep for a three-run game-winning home run.

After the game, Hernandez said, "I've played 12 years, and this is the most amazing Opening Day. To get that type of win is great, and to do it on a day like today gets people even more excited. It's amazing." 

9. Brandon Inge Give the Detroit Tigers Back-to-Back Walk-off Wins

A day earlier, Miguel Cabrera hit a single in the bottom of the ninth that plated Brandon Inge and gave the Detroit Tigers a 5-4 victory over the Texas Rangers.

On this day, Inge was involved in the drama again, as he hit one out of the park to give the Tigers their second walk-off win over the Rangers in as many days. Skip to the 0:50 mark of the video for Inge's home run.

8. The Braves Beat the Pirates in 19 After a Blown Call at the Plate

After 19 innings, perhaps home plate umpire Jerry Meals was just ready to call it a night.  Maybe his tired eyes couldn't focus. How else could you explain him calling Julio Lugo safe at home when he was clearly tagged once, and possibly even twice, before reaching home plate? That was the call, though, as the Braves outlasted the Pirates, 4-3 in 19 innings.

The game was a sign of things to come for the Pirates, as their once-promising season unravelled after this game. The video picks up right after the call, but replays it.

7. Jacoby Ellsbury Delivers Back-to-Back Game-Winning Hits for the Red Sox

One night after hitting a walk-off, game-winning single against the Cleveland Indians, Jacoby Ellsbury came to bat with the score tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the ninth. He delivered again, as he sent Joe Smith's pitch over the wall for the walk off home run, his second game-winner in as many days.

6. Albert Pujols Hits Back-to-Back Walk-off Home Runs for the Cardinals

Like Jacoby Ellsbury mentioned in the previous slide, the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols came to the plate with a chance to win the game for the second day in a row. Like Ellsbury, Pujols delivered, belting a .home run off Cubs reliever Rodrigo Lopez. 

The night before, Pujols hit a walk-off home run off of Jeff Samardzija in the bottom of the 12th inning.

Two extra inning wins over the arch rival Cubs in two days, both won with walk-off home runs by Alber Pujols.

You think the Cards will miss him this year? Maybe just a little.

5. Robert Andino Hits a Walk-off Single That Ends the Red Sox's Season

On Sept. 3, the Boston Red Sox had a nine-game lead for the AL Wild Card. Then, the bottom fell out from underneath them.

Heading in to the final game of the season, they were tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL Wild Card. The Red Sox had the Orioles, and the Rays faced the Yankees. The Red Sox continued their historic collapse by losing to the Orioles on this Robert Andino walk-off single.

If it were not for that Andino single, would we have ever heard the great stories of beer and fried chicken in the Red Sox clubhouse? Maybe not.

4. The Tampa Bay Rays Win the Wild Card with Evan Longoria's Walk-off Home Run

In the previous slide, you saw how the Red Sox lost on a walk-off single by Robert Andino. Now if the Rays beat the Yankees, they'd clinch the AL Wild Card. 

Things did not start out well for the Rays, as they were down 7-0 heading in to the bottom of the eighth inning. They somehow managed to score six runs in that eighth inning, cutting the Yankees lead to one.

In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and two strikes on him, pinch-hitter Dan Johnson hit a game-tying home run to send the game in to extra innings. Evan Longoria stepped to the plate with the game still tied at seven in the bottom of the 12th. He hit a line-drive home run over the left field wall that sent the Red Sox home and his Rays in to the playoffs.  

3. Nelson Cruz Hits a Walk-off Grand Slam to Win Game 2 of the ALCS

Nothing more exciting than walk-offs in the playoffs. Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers went to extra innings. 

Tigers reliever Ryan Perry entered the game in the bottom of the 11th inning. He promptly gave up three straight singles to the Rangers.

Next up to bat, Nelson Cruz. Bases loaded. Nobody out. A sac fly wins it. Cruz took any suspense a sac fly would give you and just hit it over the wall. Game over. A walk-off grand slam from Nelson Cruz to give the Rangers a two games to none lead in the ALCS.

2. Nyjer Morgan's Walk-off Single Wins the NLDS for the Brewers

Another walk-off in the playoffs, this one to win the National League Divisional Series for the Milwaukee Brewers. Nyjer Morgan came to the plate in the bottom of the 10th inning, with the game tied at two, to face Diamondbacks pitcher JJ Putz.

Brewers fans prayed for a single to score Carlos Gomez from second base, and that's exactly what Morgan gave them. A walk-off, NLDS-winning single from Nyjer Morgan. 

1. David Freese's Walk-off Home Run to Win Game 6 of the World Series

The St. Louis Cardinals would just not die in Game 6 of the World Series. They were down to their last strike of the series twice and somehow managed to stay alive. 

In the bottom of the ninth inning, down two, with two on, two out and two strikes on him, Freese hit a two-run triple off Rangers closer Netfali Perez. An inning later, down one and again down to their last strike, the Cardinals' Lance Berkman singled home a run to tie the game.

Now in the bottom of the 11th, back to the plate steps the ninth-inning hero, David Freese. He sends the pitch over the center field fence, forcing a game 7. 

Now, who's ready for some baseball?

Check out Brian's blog: The Hair of the Dog Sports Blog.

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