“Unbelievable,” and “Are you kidding me.”
Those were the words of a Fox Sports commentator as Tampa Bay center fielder Kevin Kiermaier climbed the fence to make a game-ending home run robbery catch to seal the Rays’ 7-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
It’s a play that kids dream about, but for Kiermaier, it seems like it’s just his daily routine.
Here’s how the play went down.
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis stepped up to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kipnis then launched a deep fly ball to center field. Kiermaier slowly made his way back to the warning track and then perfectly timed his jump as he caught the ball just over the fence to rob Kipnis.
Home runs are OUTLAWED. pic.twitter.com/3UO4aNluAR
— MLB (@MLB) May 17, 2017
“I just told myself to get back there quick, because I knew how high he hit it. … The wind was doing crazy things this whole series, and I just wanted to give myself a chance. Do I want to try climbing the wall right now, or do I jump? I just chose to jump and thankfully I caught the ball at its highest point.” – Kiermaier
Now, that’s how you end a ballgame.
