After winning two games in a row, the New York Yankees fell to the Orioles in a dramatic ninth inning and lost the third game. This elated old enemy David Ortiz, who enjoyed watching his former rivals stumble.
Rookie standout Ben Rice seemed to have secured the win for New York with a three-run homer, putting them ahead 5-3. However, the Orioles rallied, stunning the Yankees. This collapse overshadowed the Yankees’ recent positive stretch, raising concerns about their resilience as they enter the second half of the season.
With the bases loaded and two outs, shortstop Anthony Volpe mishandled a ground ball, prolonging the inning. Cedric Mullins then came to the plate and hit what appeared to be an easy fly ball to left field. However, Alex Verdugo misjudged the ball’s path, initially charging in before realizing his mistake. In a desperate bid to recover, Verdugo stumbled and fell as the ball sailed over him.
The Orioles seized the moment, scoring three runs for a shocking 6-5 walk-off win. The play, which had a 99% catch probability, left the Yankees reeling and former Boston Red Sox star Ortiz gleefully enjoying the downfall of his old rivals.
At the All-Star media event, David Ortiz couldn’t hide his joy over the Yankees’ loss, declaring it one of his greatest delights. Alongside Orioles stars Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, Ortiz savored the comeback victory. Henderson, who hit his 28th homer during the game, joined him in reviewing the collapse on a video monitor.
Ortiz exuberantly recounted the game-winning hit, saying it was so gratifying that it made him crave a celebratory steak dinner. His enthusiasm for the Yankees’ misfortune was palpable throughout the discussion with the young Orioles players.
“When I watch the Yankees lose, nothing makes me more happy than that,” the ex-Boston star, who now stays in New York said while laughing. “You guys coming from behind and whoop them.”
Unexpected Yankees hatred from Ortiz
Though Ortiz was once a well-pronounced enemy of New York fans, his rhetoric against the Yankees was unexpected. Recently, the New York Senate honored him. Also, he shares a warm relationship with Pinstriped legend Derek Jeter, who is his co-commentator on Fox Sports. There were widespread expectations that his Yankees enemity had toned down in recent years and the 2004 story was history only.
Also, Ortiz lives in the same apartment where Juan Soto has his home in New York and both have developed some sort of friendly relations. Ortiz enthusiastically echoed Soto’s comment about his mother’s frequent cooking, showing deep appreciation for her culinary talents. He hinted that his perfect scenario would involve a Yankees loss paired with a home-cooked meal from Soto’s mom.
However, he proved everyone wrong with his recent tirade against the Bombers.
Despite Ortiz’s delight in the Yankees’ recent stumble, the team remains competitive in the American League East, currently trailing the Orioles by just one game with a 58-40 record. This tight race highlights the importance of every win and loss as the season unfolds.
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