“We’ve been waiting,” says Michael Kay, as Stanton walks up to the plate.
“For his signature Yankee moment.”
Giancarlo Stanton badly wanted his Yankee Stadium moment, you can see it… and he f*cking got it. pic.twitter.com/2kIlRduCfM
— The Insider (@itstheinsider) June 21, 2018
The Yankees were down 5-0 in the fifth inning.
They’ve scored five runs unanswered.
It’s 5-5, after a two-run shot from Gary Sanchez in the 8th.
Two outs now, in the ninth. With Didi Gregorius on base after a hit to center field.
And Giancarlo Stanton comes up.
Let’s all remember that this isn’t Giancarlo Stanton’s “Yankee Moment.” Those happen in October. This may be the day that allows him to relax and get going. But that’s all.
— Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) April 24, 2018
His head fighting the creeping thought of one thing on the entire ballpark’s mind—like that scene in Inception, where one of the guys says:
“Don’t think about elephants. What are you thinking about?”
“Elephants.”
In his head, Stanton says:
“Don’t think about a walk-off. Don’t think about it.”
He takes a first-pitch slider for a strike. Fouls off a hittable fastball for the second. 0-2 count, two outs, the game tied.
“What am I thinking about?” he says, and he can’t help it. “A walk-off.”
And he sets up, his stance rigid, the front leg in front of his body as if… have you ever looked at that posture he has? He stands there, statue-like, his body twisted back behind his front leg as if he guarding some great force about to be released—part samurai, part matador, that front leg a wall with all his energy packed to the brim behind it.
Hidden behind his elbow guard, his plastic jaw protector, so that you almost forget how strong he is. Quiet, reserved, down 0-2 in the count.
And then, he gets that slider again. Over the inside half of the plate.
0-2 count and you hang a slider to Stanton… why?
— Kevin Maciver (@kevinmaciver) June 21, 2018
“There it goes,” shouts Michael Kay. “Signature moment, see ya!!”
This Magic Moment starring Giancarlo Stanton pic.twitter.com/jwZn79CVyq
— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) June 21, 2018
Giancarlo Stanton ends it with a laser of a HR. Gotta believe that kind of moment is why he wanted to come to the Yankees. Looked like a little kid romping around the bases. Yanks come back from down 5-0 to win 7-5.
— Tyler Kepner (@TylerKepner) June 21, 2018
The night before the summer solstice, Giancarlo Stanton and the Yankees making the city come alive like it did in the old days.
It’s going to be one of those summers again.
New York on top of the baseball world.