Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s sticky check taunt returns the favor in Boston

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Isiah Kiner-Falefa, known for his versatility across the diamond, added pitching to his repertoire for the second time during the Yankees’ 15-5 loss to the Red Sox on Saturday night. In a desperate move, the Yankees turned to Isiah Kiner-Falefa to pitch the eighth inning. However, the umpires created an obstacle for him, trying to put him in a difficult situation.

The situation became so dire that Isiah Kiner-Falefa, the versatile utilityman who dared to steal home against the Mets, was forced to make his second pitching appearance of the season. In the ninth inning, he surrendered two hits and allowed a run. To add to the frustration, an umpire subjected the shortstop-turned-utility player to a routine check for sticky substances after the game.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s sticky taunt

In an attempt to preserve their bullpen for the remainder of a four-game series, the Yankees turned to Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the ninth inning of a lopsided loss to the Twins on April 13. With the Yankees trailing 11-1, the utility man took the mound. Despite allowing a single to Jose Miranda, Isiah Kiner-Falefa managed to pitch a clean inning. After recording the final out, he headed back to the Yankee dugout but not before extending his hands and turning towards the umpiring crew, eagerly anticipating a check for prohibited substances.

Surprisingly, the umpires refrained from conducting a search, and the Yankees utility player chuckled as he made his way back to the dugout.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s actions clearly showed his playful mockery of MLB’s crackdown on sticky substances. Umpires regularly conduct checks on pitchers between innings to ensure compliance with the rules. After his impressive outing on the mound, Isiah Kiner-Falefa felt he deserved the same scrutiny. However, despite his stellar performance, the umpires didn’t even bother to conduct a check, leaving Kiner-Falefa amused and untested.

In Boston on Saturday, that playful taunt turned into a reality.

The Yankees’ decision to bring in Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a clear sign of surrender, as they opted to save a reliever and let a position player take the mound. While it occurred during a demoralizing loss, IKF managed to find some enjoyment in the situation and made the most of it.

The sticky substance inspection made fun of that too.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa has become a rare sight in the Yankees’ roster, as he becomes the first position player since Erik Kratz in 2020 to take the mound twice in a single season. This unique feat highlights the team’s willingness to think outside the box and utilize their versatile players in unconventional ways.

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