They call it the “Wild Card” Game for a reason, folks.
One night after the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins treated us to a roller coaster affair in the American League, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies did them one better in the National League Wild Card Game at Chase Field.
And that’s because Archie Bradley did something no AL player could do.
With his team clinging to a one-run lead in the seventh inning, the D-backs relief pitcher came to bat with two runners on and two outs — and proceeded to make history.
.@ArchieBradley7 IS the #WildCard. pic.twitter.com/g2BGlIu6TO
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2017
Bradley laced a triple to the left-center gap that plated two runs and gave Arizona a three-run cushion. And not only was it the right-hander’s first career extra-base hit, he also was the first relief pitcher ever to hit a triple in a playoff game.
Archie Bradley is the 1st player in history to enter a postseason game as a relief pitcher and hit a triple. https://t.co/a4V5qfA8KS
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 5, 2017
Suffice it to say, Bradley’s heroics had Twitter all sorts of fired up.
If you don't love Archie Bradley, that's a you problem. pic.twitter.com/mJT2XmzUZc
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) October 5, 2017
Archie Bradley with a monster first-career triple and an Are You Not Entertained helmet removal upon arrival at third.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/915775275996237824
THIS IS NOT A DRILL. ARCHIE BRADLEY JUST HIT A TWO-RUN TRIPLE. pic.twitter.com/LoVnUBlbqg
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) October 5, 2017
Also, this:
If Archie Bradley plates a run, I'm getting his face tattooed on my back tomorrow.
— Jeff Buss (@JBuss9) October 5, 2017
Turns out the D’backs needed those extra runs, too, as Bradley allowed two runs on the bump but helped the home team secure an 11-8 victory and a berth in the NL Division Series.
"I knew I wasn't as sharp and was going to give up some homers, so I needed a cushion."
Archie Bradley is great.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 5, 2017
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
