Major League Baseball

Molina's homer turns the tide

Published Oct. 20, 2010 10:15 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

NEW YORK - As Bengie Molina neared third base during his sixth-inning home run trot, he thumped his chest and pointed to Section 226.

That's where a group of wildly cheering Ranger players' family and friends saluted Molina while the rest of Yankee Stadium's 49,977 fans sat in hushed silence.

Molina's three-run homer gave the Rangers a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish - and a commanding 3-1 advantage in the AL Championship Series.

"It's not a bad job for a fat kid who everyone makes fun of when he runs," smiled Molina, after going 3-for-4 with three runs batted in.

And would you believe it? Molina's go-ahead homer occurred on the four-year anniversary of his younger brother and fellow catcher Yadier Molina's heroics in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series.

On that night, Yadier's two-run homer in the ninth inning sent St. Louis to the World Series with a victory over the Mets - across town at old Shea Stadium.

Bengie recalled that he watched that game on TV at home. He said that two minutes before his brother's homer, he stood in his kitchen, saying, "Sit on the change[up], sit on the change[up]." The pitch Yadier hit for a homer was, indeed, a changeup.

When Bengie hit his homer Tuesday night and neared third base, he began thinking about his father, who passed away two years ago. Bengie said he was pointing in the stands to his mother, who is ill, and his wife.

Granted, the 5-11, 225-pound Molina isn't the most impressive-looking Ranger. He's renowned as one of the slowest players in the league.

But he isn't nicknamed "Big Money" for nothing. That's why Yankees manager Joe Girardi probably should have thought better of a tactical decision he made that led to Molina's go-ahead homer.

With two outs and Nelson Cruz on second, Girardi called for right-hander A.J. Burnett to intentionally walk David Murphy to get to Molina.

Molina smashed Burnett's next pitch, a 92-mph fastball, into the left-field seats.

"I was looking for a good pitch to hit, that's all," said Molina, adding of Girardi's strategy, "He did the right thing. Murphy's a great hitter, and he kills right-handers, so why not walk him and face me?"

Molina's heroics weren't limited to offense. With the Rangers leading, 7-3, in the bottom of the eighth, the Yankees loaded the bases with one out. Reliever Darren Oliver threw a pitch inside and in the dirt to Nick Swisher that Molina saved from going to the backstop and allowing a run.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball