On August 18 the Yankees and the Tigers played in the little league classic game. The little league classic has been a yearly tradition since 2017.
The game was a pitchers duel that ended in a 3-2 Tigers victory. Despite the low offense there were still many big highlights in the game
Little league classic moment 1- Aaron Judge throws out runner
In the bottom of the fifth inning, it looked like the Tigers may be the first team to get on the board. Jace Jung was on first base with Parker Meadows at the plate. Meadows hit a double. Jung attempted to score on the double. Judge threw the ball to Anthony Volpe, who then threw the ball to catcher Jose Trevino to throw out Jung, keeping the game tied at zero to zero. The game had officially turned into a pitchers duel between all star and favorite to win the Cy Young award Tarik Skubal and former all star Marcus Stroman.
Little league classic moment 2- Gleyber Torres scores on wild pitch
The game did not get a score until the top of the sixth inning. With Giancarlo Stanton at the plate, Skubal threw a wild pitch. This allowed Gleyber Torres to score from second base. Stanton would go on to work a walk. However, the Yankees would not get any more runs from there as Jasson Dominguez grounded out. Dominguez was promoted from AAA as the “27th man” for the little league classic.
Little league classic moment 3- Jace Jung RBI single
After being thrown out at home plate earlier in the game, Jace Jung was looking to get a big hit in the bottom of the ninth. He hit a single to the left fielder that scored Colt Keith, tying the game. Just two days before Jung had made his big league debut. This was the 10th time that Yankees closer Clay Holmes has blown a game. Holmes was unhittable for the first two months of the season but since June has struggled to consistently get outs.
Little league classic moment 4- DJ Lemahieu RBI single
In extra innings games, a “ghost” runner starts the inning on second base. For the Yankees this runner was the speedy shortstop Anthony Volpe. So when D.J Lemahieu hit a ground ball past the infielder, it allowed Volpe to score easily. At the time Lemahieu had given the Yankees a two to one lead. Lemahieu has struggled at the plate this season but he has still found a way to get some big hits for the Yankees. As he has gotten more reps at the plate since returning from injury in the end of May he has started to hit the ball harder, further and more consistently.
Little league classic moment 5- Zach McKinstry RBI single
The Tigers also got the benefit of starting the inning with a “ghost” runner at second. For them it was former Yankee prospect Trey Sweeney. Like Volpe, Sweeney has speed. McKinstry, just like Lemahieu, hit a single past the infield to score the “ghost” runner and tie the game. The Yankees had entrusted Mark Leiter Jr. to close the game. Leiter Jr. was one of the Yankees trade deadline moves, and the only one on the active roster as Enyel De Los Santos was DFAed and Jazz Chisholm is on the IL. Leiter Jr. has an ERA in 6s since joining the Yankees.
Little league classic moment 6- Parker Meadows walk off single
McKinstry had stolen second base. Although the Yankees attempted to challenge the call, the ruling on the field was upheld as McKinstry had officially stolen his tenth base. This meant when Parker Meadows hit a ground ball to Dominguez McKinstry was able to score. Dominguez had oddly hesitated when making the throw home, which very likely made a difference.
Although he was not officially asked he very likely forgot the score was tied and was considering throwing to second base instead. Despite his hesitation Dominguez has a strong arm and the play at the plate was close, but ultimately the Tigers won in walk off fashion. The Yankees had lost the game the day before, meaning they lost the series two games to one.
