Toronto Blue Jays' Ryan Goins, right, celebrates his walk off home run against the Cleveland Indians with teammates during tenth inning American League baseball action in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept.1, 2015.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
For Ryan Goins, the delirious moment on Tuesday night as he was rounding the bases after stroking the winning home run against the Cleveland Indians is a memory he will cherish for a lifetime.
Or will he?
We're still not too sure on that one.
As an unlikely offensive hero who delivered his first-ever walk-off home run in the 10th inning that delivered the Blue Jays a 5–3 win over the Indians at a howling Rogers Centre, Goins could be forgiven for getting caught up in his emotions just a little bit.
"You know what, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I blacked out," Goins said afterward in the Toronto clubhouse when asked what was going through his mind after he struck the big blast.
"I don't even know what happened, honestly. It's just an unbelievable feeling and something I'll remember."
Probably just as well that Goins is a bit fuzzy on that recollection.
The defensively sure-handed second baseman perhaps made his first mistake when he cast aside his batting helmet as he approached the awaiting throng of teammates who anxiously anticipated his arrival at home plate.
His carefully shaven noggin gleaming in the bright lights within the domed stadium, Goins probably could have used the added protection as he leapt into the frothing mosh pit of humanity.
Goins got pummelled in the celebration, the jersey ripped off his back before he was doused with a big jug of Gatorade.
Not known for his power production – the homer gives him five on the year, extending his career-best – Goins always jokes that he never knows when he tags one if the ball has the legs to carry out.
"I knew this one," he said, adding: "It's unbelievable. I can't even put it into words. It's the best feeling of my career so far."
And so ended a rather crazy night at the ballyard, where the Blue Jays maintained their grip on first place in the American League East over the New York Yankees with the win.
The Yankees also triumphed, 3-1 over the Boston Red Sox, and Toronto's lead atop the standing remains 1 ½ games as Major League Baseball enters September crunch time.
Always gifted defensively with the glove, Goins has been showing of late that there's some punch in his bat as well. Now hitting .246 on the season, the homer extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games.
"No, just honestly, what I was talking about before, laying the bat on my shoulder," he offered when asked if he had altered his approach any in the batter's box. "But other than that nothing with my swing, nothing with where to hit the ball, nothing with pitch selection.
"It's all just happened."
It was a great game for Goins, who could have used a cab to better traverse the territory he covered from second base to make a sliding catch in foul territory down the right field line to retire Lonnie Chisenhall in the second inning.
"He's smoking hot too with the bat right now," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of Goins. "He's really turning into a different hitter. I mean, his glove speaks for itself. You look back at that foul ball he caught today, the range he showed on that.
"He's got such a good approach at the plate right now. It looks like he's cut down his swing. It was a big win for us, it really was."