Tough get, Goins! Catch part 1 of heroics
Second baseman Ryan Goins ended the Blue Jays' 5-3 win over the Indians on Tuesday with a walk-off, two-run homer in the 10th inning. Hours before that, he showed off a rare blend of defensive range and efficiency that only Statcast™ can properly explain.
While Goins used his bat and glove to help out the Jays, one of his Toronto teammates created a run with his legs. And there were several other noteworthy plays outside of Rogers Centre on Tuesday, including a titanic home run, a few spectacular plays at the hot corner and a spot-on outfield throw.
Here's an in-depth look at each of those plays, courtesy of Statcast™.
Goins gets going
With a runner on first in the second inning, Goins went a long way to record the first out. Lonnie Chisenhall lofted a ball into foul territory, and Goins ranged 124.7 feet on virtually a straight line to get under it.
Goins' 99.56 percent route efficiency ranked fourth overall this season, and first among infielders, on plays in which the defender covered at least 100 feet. Only outfielders Billy Hamilton, Seth Smith and Ben Revere have covered as much ground in a more efficient manner this season.
Goins chipped in with his bat later on, hitting his fifth homer of the season to right field in the 10th inning. He unloaded on a 79 mph slider from Bryan Shaw, and the game-winning homer screamed off his bat at 100.1 mph and projected by Statcast™ to land 380 feet from home plate.
Pompey speeds around the bases
Video: CLE@TOR: Pompey averages 21 mph on two stolen bases
In the seventh inning of the same game, Toronto's Dalton Pompey gave the Jays a brief lead practically on his own. Pompey entered the game as a pinch-runner after Justin Smoak drew a leadoff walk and immediately stole second base, reaching a top speed of 20.5 mph on his way.
He then quickly stole third base, getting up to 21.8 mph on his fourth steal of the season. Pompey trotted home -- relatively speaking, as he reached 18.7 mph -- on Kevin Pillar's sacrifice fly to center.
Trumbo hits one to the tracks
Video: SEA@HOU: Trumbo powers homer to tune of 464 feet
Mariners first baseman Mark Trumbo unleashed the most jaw-dropping homer of the day, crushing a 95.4-mph fastball from Vincent Velasquez that was projected to land 464 feet away from home plate and hit off the front of the train at Minute Main Park. The two-run blast, Trumbo's 20th, came off his bat at 111.9 mph and checked in as the 32nd-longest homer hit this season.
Arenado does it all defensively
Video: ARI@COL: Arenado shows off his arm strength at third
It's hardly a surprise to see Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado turn a game into his own personal highlight reel at the hot corner, but he did so once again in the fourth inning of Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the D-backs.
Arenado made a barehanded scoop and throw for the inning's second out, uncorking a 76.7-mph throw 76.1 feet across the infield to force out Welington Castillo. After two walks, Arenado fielded Chris Owings' grounder and made a slick throw from foul territory, throwing out Owings even as he reached a top speed of nearly 20 mph heading down the line.
Duffy dives to save a run
Video: SF@LAD: Duffy makes great play on Greinke's scorcher
Two of baseball's best-hitting pitchers met at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night, and Giants third baseman Matt Duffy stole a hit away from one to help the other. With two outs and runners on the corners in the second inning, Duffy dived toward the third-base line to snag a 99-mph line drive from Zack Greinke, ending the inning and saving Madison Bumgarner a run.
Kemp keeps Choo at bay
Video: TEX@SD: Choo pumps breaks on Kemp's 99 mph throw home
Padres right fielder Matt Kemp had a big night at the plate and an equally big defensively play in the third inning of the Padres' game against the Rangers at Petco Park. With one out and Shin-Soo Choo at third base, Adrian Beltre lined out to Kemp, who took a nearly perfect route (98.6 percent efficiency) to get to the ball.
Kemp then fired an 89.7-mph laser 236.8 feet toward home plate, the hardest throw Statcast™ has tracked from Kemp all season, and kept Choo from even attempting to head home.