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Who says pitchers aren’t athletes?
New York Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz showed disconnected his athleticism pinch a awesome play connected a bunt effort successful nan eighth inning of nan team’s 3-2 triumph complete nan Texas Rangers connected Tuesday nighttime astatine Globe Life Field.
The Rangers were down 2-0 successful nan bottommost of nan eighth inning pinch runners connected first and second, pinch cleanup hitter Joc Pederson astatine nan plate. Pederson tried to astonishment Cruz pinch a bunt.
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New York Yankees alleviation pitcher Fernando Cruz fields a crushed shot and throws to 3rd guidelines for an retired during nan eighth inning against nan Texas Rangers astatine Globe Life Field successful Arlington, Texas, connected April 28, 2026. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
Cruz was fresh for it and came charging disconnected nan mound and slid to snag nan ball. Cruz’s descent pointed him successful nan guidance of 3rd base, throwing nan shot pinch arsenic overmuch velocity arsenic he could muster, arsenic he threw from his back.
Yankees 3rd baseman Ryan McMahon snared Cruz’s propulsion connected nan bounce while besides stretching disconnected nan bag. Cruz’s propulsion narrowly hit nan hustling Rangers 3rd baseman Josh Jung to nan container for a important out.
The bunt play was an opportunity for Cruz to show disconnected his skills from a anterior shot life, arsenic he was drafted arsenic an infielder earlier converting to a pitcher later successful his career.
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New York Yankees pitcher Fernando Cruz celebrates aft pitching successful nan eighth inning against nan Texas Rangers successful Arlington, Texas, connected April 28, 2026. (Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
Aaron Judge said he had Cruz talking astir his infield past and jokingly said he mightiness judge Cruz’s past.
"I deliberation I mightiness judge him now," Judge said pinch a smile. "We'll see. I request to spot a mates much bully plays for illustration that. I'm much worried of having him conscionable support doing his point connected nan mound. I deliberation we'll beryllium good."
Cruz’s adjacent 2 outs were not arsenic melodramatic arsenic his first out, but were conscionable arsenic important, arsenic he struck retired Jake Burger and pinch-hitter Ezequiel Duran to extremity nan inning.
Judge deed a solo location tally successful nan ninth inning, tying Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami pinch his MLB-leading 12th of nan season, to springiness nan Yankees a 3-0 lead successful nan ninth inning.
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New York Yankees alleviation pitcher Fernando Cruz reacts aft nan eighth inning against nan Texas Rangers astatine Globe Life Field successful Arlington, Texas, connected April 28, 2026. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
Judge’s homer ended up being nan game-winning run, arsenic nan Rangers scored 2 runs successful nan bottommost of nan ninth inning and were threatening for more. However, Yankees person David Bednar held connected for nan prevention pinch a game-ending double play aft inducing a crushed shot from Corey Seager.
With nan win, nan Yankees improved to an American League-best 20-10. They will look to complete nan expanse erstwhile they play nan Rangers (14-16) successful nan last crippled of nan three-game bid connected Wednesday astatine 2:35 p.m. ET.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ryan Canfield is simply a integer accumulation adjunct for Fox News Digital.
