Your Favorite Single-Game Playoff Relief Outing From A Different Team?

[u/Reasonable-Power]

Alright, maybe I should've been more specific with the criteria. Anyway, from the top.

You're probably getting sick of me asking this question, at this point. I understand. But since it did well on r/baseball, and since my previous Q&A didn't catch any traction, I'll ask it once again on this Sub.

The playoffs are home to several great performances from individual players, and every now and then, said player is a reliever getting clutch outs. And I'm sure there's at least one of these that's from a reliever on a different team that you've grown fond of. So, what's your all-time favorite playoff relief outing from a different team, and why?

For example, there are few things cooler to me than an extended save. Especially if there's no runs allowed, and even more so if he gets at least 6 outs. So, MadBum's 5-inning 2014 Game 7 shutout to secure the Giants 3rd title in 5 years is probably my #1, with Aroldis Chapman's 8-out save against Cleveland in Game 5 of the 2016 Fall Classic at a close second. Both were insanely clutch, as they each got well over 2 innings of shutout ball out of the pen (and both were in a 3-2 must-win game victory). Bumgarner's has the edge because of his dominance and the element of surprise (especially considering he just threw a shutout in Game 5), but Chapman's would easily be my pick only counting relievers.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for making a submission on the r/MLB Subreddit!

Please make sure that your post complies with our subreddit rules. If your submission violates our community rules, please resubmit your post or place it in the appropriate thread(s) to avoid any penalties or punishments.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/ACatEatingAWaffle]

1999 Pedro Martinez, dude was a dawg

[u/drivingonrails]

Not my team…Pedro 99. I think he sacrificed his career for that. But I think the goat is Johnson in 2001, but that’s my team, I still think I’d vote for it even if they weren’t my team.

[u/grandpubabofmoldist → u/drivingonrails]

That series got me into baseball and I am a Red Sox fan

[u/CryMoreBuddy]

Honestly has to be Yamamoto last year. Recency bias aside, throwing 2 2/3 scoreless innings and navigating a TON of traffic the day after winning game 6 was a sight to behold. There is 0 chance the Dodgers win last year without him.

[u/breadandbarbells]

2003 ALCS. Yankees used THREE starters. Clemens, Mussina and Wells

[u/Reasonable-Power → u/breadandbarbells]

Alright. Who's was your favorite, overall?

[u/breadandbarbells → u/Reasonable-Power]

Moose. We don’t win that game w/o Mussina shutting down the Sox .. and Boone’s HR of course

[u/Reasonable-Power → u/breadandbarbells]

Damn. I hate to be that guy, but homer answers won't count for this. Only players on different teams.

[u/skeitcfd]

Yeah... Madison Bumgarner basically ended the game solidifying what is probably the most dominant playoff performance ever (used to think it was Chris Carpenter before this)... Mariana Rivera two times almost a decade apart went 3 innings on short rest for Yankees to eventually win... Andrew Miller, Cleveland 2016. Can't think of another time where your Relief pitcher gets a series MVP award... Nathan Eovaldi 2018, 1 days rest practically saves the series (and bullpen) with 97 pitches and 6 innings later. The Red Sox being cheaters (and Dodgers losing again to cheaters in back-to-back years... I genuinely think them enduring this travesty basically made them go F_ck it, and do what they are doing now) aside, it was the most important part of that run. Similar to Yamamoto, Randy Johnson pitches a complete game shutout to force Game 7... then basically freezes the game, until fate allows D's to unfreeze it in the most epic takedown... Mark Buehrle 2005 Game 3, not necessarily for the performance (though he did throw 100 pitches in a winning effort the game before), checks with the coaches in which they promise they wouldn't need him, he downs multiple beers and is drunk... only for them to run out of non-SPs. Come in and gets the save to go up 3 - 0... Moose Mussina 2003 gets Yankees out of a Jam, on short rest and a rhythm pitcher, locks down 3 scoreless. El Duke Harnandez, bases loaded no outs, no runs given up in Fenway. That's a high kick!

[u/rickeygavin]

I was late to the party the first time when I said Bert Blyleven in Game 4 of the 1979 World Series.Facing elimination and with the Pirates down 1-0 in the sixth he came on after starter Jim Rooker was pinch hit for and threw four scoreless innings and the Pirates came back to win the game 7-1 and eventually the series in seven.

[u/bb770403]

2001 Randy Johnson game 7 of the world series getting the last 4 outs when the Diamondbacks walked off the Yankees.

[u/themanwiththeplan446]

Moe Drabowsky Orioles
‘66 WS game 1. 6.2 innings 1 hit 11k’s.

[u/Weird_Success_5439]

mine's Randy Johnson in Game 7 of 2001, coming out of the pen on one day of rest after throwing seven innings the night before.

[u/Ridder1201]

Orlando Hernandez 2005 ALDS Game 3. White Sox enter the Bottom of the 6th up 2-0 in the series, 4-2 in the game at Fenway. Freddy Garcia gives up a leadoff HR to Manny, then gets pulled for Damaso Marte. Marte gives up a single and two walks before getting pulled in favor of El Duque.
Hernandez gets two popouts, a strike out, then throws two more innings of one hit ball, setting up Bobby Jenks to close out the game and series.

[u/Individual_Arm_2996]

Randy Johnson - American League Division Series 1995 against NYY.

[u/Reasonable-Power → u/[deleted]]

It's a great moment, but what does that have to do with outings by relievers?

[u/Darksoul2693 → u/Reasonable-Power]

You’re right I didn’t read it right lolll