What is the biggest ninth-inning rally in baseball history?
Plenty of baseball fans were likely Googling for that answer Monday after an incredible, possibly unprecedented comeback in an NAIA playoff game.
Trevor Goodwin of Indiana University Southeast hit a three-run walk-off homer to defeat Indiana Tech, 14-11, in NAIA opening round action.
That walk-off moment was exciting enough, but consider this — it was the final blow in a 12-run rally that started with two outs.
You read that right — IU Southeast trailed 11-2, with two outs in the ninth, and won.
It all started with an error with two outs. Goodwin singled in the first run of the rally a couple of batters later. The hits kept coming, along with another error and a bases-loaded walk, to fuel the incredible comeback.
To put the game in perspective, the biggest ninth-inning rally in MLB history is nine runs, by the Detroit Tigers against the Milwaukee Brewers. That happened all the way back in 1901. And all those runs didn’t score with two outs.
Anyone with a rooting interest in the game was obviously either thrilled or horrified, depending on which team they were pulling for, but even casual fans who stumbled across the results on social media were stunned and impressed.
This is amazing. Just imagine being on the other side of this Loss… I would quit baseball. https://t.co/fFI0KHEvEQ
— Bill Ray (@Slickwilly22) May 13, 2024
[NAIA Ball]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.