In a hilarious moment that probably didn’t seem so funny to New York Yankees fans and particularly starting pitcher Ivan Nova at the time, Ichiro Suzuki managed to pull off a first-class fake out on Saturday.
It happened in the ninth inning of New York’s 2-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles — a game Nova would complete for his first career shutout — with Chris Davis at the plate. The tying run was also stationed at first base. On the 2-2 pitch, Davis would hit a high, towering fly ball toward the short porch in right field that literally had everyone in the stadium not wearing an Orioles’ cap holding their breathe. I mean after all, this Major League Baseball’s leading home run hitter who just made contact, and it appears the ball is carrying very well.
Or at least that’s the impression Ichiro was hoping to give off as he made his approached to the warning track. With one quick, subtle turn of his shoulder as he stepped on to the track, hearts quickly sank. In that moment, everybody’s mind has decided Davis’ blast had just tied the game.
And then Ichiro said, “Gotcha, fools!“
It turns out he had the fly ball measured the entire way, and was admittedly just toying with the emotions of the fans and of his teammates.
SD Yankee Report 