Walk-Off Wins Don’t Clash

Images courtesy of Daylife via Getty Images and Reuters Pictures

One at bat, he’s channeling his inner Paul Bunyan and snapping his bat over his leg as if it were a twig. The next, he’s delivering a game-winning double.

Thanks to Travis Snider, walk-off wins don’t clash.

It was another roller coaster ride at the Rogers Centre as the Blue Jays picked up their second walk-off victory of the year, just two weeks after they celebrated their first walk-off victory of the year (weird, eh?).

Travis Snider was in the dog house for most of the game, but managed to dig himself out with a very opportune hit. Like most of the Blue Jays hitters, Snider had a tough road trip but I’m sure he was happy to be home.

Things truly reached a boiling point in the 6th after Snider struck out and broke his bat in frustration. Watch the animated gif courtesy of @James_In_TO. As impressive of a feat as that was, I’d much prefer seeing Snider splitting his bat destroying an offspeed pitch.

Typically, I’d say that’s a very immature thing to do. Carlos Quentin and Troy Tulowitzki are prime examples that slamming your bat in disgust can lead to injuries. However in this case, Snider’s walk-off hit erased any mistakes for the time being.

And how great was it to see the Blue Jays get to Mariano Rivera? I realize this is very rare and he blows saves about as often as Haley’s Comet comes around, but last night Rivera was actually a mortal human being for once.

Truth be told, the Blue Jays should have finished him off in the bottom of the ninth. He was circling the drain and they should have capitalized on that with only one out. I guess Rivera-Bot 3000 can only give up a maximum of two runs in any inning.

Incredibly, that was only Mariano Rivera’s 68th career blown save in 664 save situations. He’s converted 89.75 percent of his total saves, and has only ever blown six against the Blue Jays.

Here’s something even more impressive; of those 68 career blown saves by Rivera, the Yankees have actually turned around and won 29 of those games. (hat tip to @RiverAveBlues for that one)

If there’s one thing that’s more gratifying than watching the Blue Jays win a walk-off win at home, it’s watching a walk-off win at home against the Yankees.

Travis Snider was the hero of the day, and now is an opportune time to celebrate with your very own Meat’s Don’t Clash shirt.