Top Clutch Performances of the Week
Miracles do happen in sports, and clutch performances are a big reason why.
Our weekly look at the top clutch performances returns, highlighted by dramatic changes in the international soccer community, a slew of competitive baseball games and the start of Wimbledon.
Let's get things rolling and check out which 10 performances were deemed clutch-worthy from the past seven days.
A.J. Ellis Seals a Comeback Win for the Los Angeles Dodgers
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Who: Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis
When: June 27 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a dreaded four-game sweep, thanks to an offensive rally capped off by the timely hitting of catcher A.J. Ellis.
Down 4-1 entering the fifth inning of play, the Dodgers' bats came alive, putting four runs on the board. The offensive assault ended when Ellis hit a two-out single, driving in the go-ahead run.
Elite pitching took over from that point forward, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Iceland Shock the World
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Who: Iceland men's national team
When: June 27 vs. England (2016 UEFA European Championship)
Iceland went out and did it. The country comprised of 330,000 people was able to step into the European Championship and stun England 2-1.
Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson were the two biggest agents of change, each netting a goal.
For Iceland, this serves as the nation's biggest win to date. The unprecedented victory gives them a chance to pursue their international aspirations further, taking on France in the quarter-final.
Understanding this is their first major tournament, per ESPN FC, the win over England is an even greater accomplishment.
Kris Bryant's Three Home Runs Guide the Chicago Cubs to a Win
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Who: Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant
When: June 27 vs. Cincinnati Reds
Kris Bryant did all he could to put the Chicago Cubs on a winning path against the Cincinnati Reds. The slugger pushed three home runs into the stands—including a grand slam.
He was the best player on the field, securing five hits and driving in six runs. The Cubs would go on to defeat the Reds, 11-8, and Bryant was the main catalyst.
The Cubs third baseman is currently situated with 21 home runs, 57 RBI and a .278 average. Those strong totals have helped the Cubs maintain first place in the NL Central.
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Francisco Silva Sinks the Game-Winner for Chile
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Who: Chile midfielder Francisco Silva
When: June 26 vs. Argentina (2016 Copa America Final)
The narrative we've seen unfold since the 2016 Copa America wrapped up has been about Lionel Messi's failure to bring Argentina a title on the world stage. Yes, Messi missed a huge penalty kick during Argentina's showdown with Chile in the Copa America final.
However, Chile won the game and midfielder Francisco Silva was a big reason why. Silva sunk the game-winning penalty kick, helping Chile defeat Argentina to claim the 2016 Copa America title.
It was a clutch moment soccer fans won't soon forget.
Arizona's JC Cloney Blanks Coastal Carolina
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Who: University of Arizona pitcher JC Cloney
When: June 27 vs. Coastal Carolina (College World Series)
The University of Arizona struck first in the annual College World Series thanks to a terrific pitching performance by JC Cloney.
Clooney steadied the ship, throwing a complete game-shutout. There was no need for relief.
His four-hit, six-strikeout performance was not only brilliant to watch, but it also helped Arizona put themselves in the driver's seat in this best out-of-three showdown.
Nicolas Almagro Prevails at Wimbledon
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Who: Nicolas Almagro
When: June 27 vs. Rogerio Dutra Silva (Wimbledon)
It might not have been a match you were watching out for, but Nicolas Almargo's showdown with Rogerio Dutra Silva during the opening round of Wimbledon turned out to be a feverish battle.
Almagro went up 2-0 to start—including a win in a brutal tiebreaker—but Dutra Silva won the next two sets to even things up.
In the end, Almagro turned up the clutch meter, finishing off his foe 6-3 in the final set.
Great tennis can be played anywhere, anytime. The Almagro vs. Dutra Silva clash showcased that notion.
Starlin Castro Laces One Past the Minnesota Twins
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Who: New York Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro
When: June 25 vs. Minnesota Twins
This isn't the first time a New York Yankee has been featured on the clutch performance list. But it is the debut of Yankees second baseman Starlin Castro.
On June 25, Castro used his offensive prowess to break through in a tie-game. Hitting in front of the Yanks' home crowd, Castro drove in the go-ahead run—though the blistering infield rip was ruled an error.
Behind an incredible effort by the Yankees' bullpen and Castro's one-hop RBI, the Bronx Bombers moved forward with their 37th win of the 2016 season.
Billy Hurley III Wins the Quicken Loans National
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Who: Billy Hurley III
When: June 26 (Quicken Loans National)
Who cares if the Quicken Loans National isn't as prestigious as the U.S. Open? PGA Tour golfer Billy Hurley III going out and shooting 17 under par is as clutch as it gets.
Hurley leveled the rest of the field, securing first place and earning himself a check for $1.24 million, per ESPN.com. Not a bad chunk of change for winning the Quicken Loans National.
The Dean Ambrose Era Continues
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Who: WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose
When: June 27 (WWE Raw)
Dean Ambrose walked away with World Wrestling Entertainment's biggest prize at the annual Money in the Bank show on June 19: the WWE Championship.
Equipped with the title, Ambrose has already ushered in a new era of championship wrestling. His in-ring dominance continued eight days later, defeating A.J. Styles on Raw.
Even with an assist from John Cena, who distracted Styles, per WWE.com, Ambrose has managed to do a spectacular job filling in for former-champ Roman Reigns. He's a driving force within the company that fans have gone out and rallied around.
Kevin Gausman Gets His First Win of the Season
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Who: Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman
When: June 25 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
One pitcher helped win an American League East clash between the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. His name is Kevin Gausman.
Gausman has been with the Orioles' organization for four years. He's always mixed great pitching with mediocre results, never winning more than seven games in one season. But on June 25, he was all the rage, winning his first start of the year.
Gausman's electric stuff blanked the Rays. He pitched 7.2 innings and struck out seven batters—about one per inning.
Baltimore remains atop the AL East. Gausman's strong performance was just another notch in the club's first-place belt.
All stats, box scores and information via Sports-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.
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