VIDEO: Orioles' Stevie Wilkerson Becomes 1st Position Player to Ever Record Save With 55 MPH Gas
By Adam Weinrib
Steve Wilkerson was born ready to close out a 16-inning game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on the road. He just didn't know it until that opportunity was thrust upon him Thursday night. Armed with 55 mph gas and a dream of being done with this, the Orioles infielder threw... a 1-2-3 inning, retiring future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols on loops and beeps for the final out of an absurd game.
Stevie Wilkerson, First Career Save. pic.twitter.com/RTnEDMKzzW
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 26, 2019
An inning full of these! An entire inning!
This makes Wilkerson the first position player in baseball ever to do anything like this since the "saves" stat was adopted in 1969.
Stevie Wilkerson is the first position player to record a save (saves became an official stat in 1969). #SCFacts
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 26, 2019
He threw 14 pitches and NONE of them were faster than 60 mph ? pic.twitter.com/rkSpGUbMew
Of course, that makes sense. Such a situation should never occur, if the wheels don't fall off.
In this case, Wilkerson's slo-mo stuff won the war of attrition, earning a hard-fought victory for the O's, who showed no give whatsoever despite holding a 33-69 record. When the fans think of 2019, they'll likely think of this game, and there's nothing wrong with that. That's what baseball is for.