Chicago White Sox: Ranking all of the walk-off wins in 2021
9.) April 12th vs Indians. Nick Williams ground into a fielder’s choice but Yu Changs throw bounces off Yasmani Grandal’s head allowing Nick Madrigal to score. (4-3)
Nick Williams was a fun story early in the season for the Chicago White Sox.
The first walk-off win of the season also happened to be the weirdest courtesy of Yasmani Grandal’s head. Adam Eaton gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead with a three-run homer in the third inning. The Indians would tie it up in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly and the score remained 3-3 heading into the ninth.
After shutting the Indians down in the top half of the ninth, Yermin Mercedes continued his hot month of April by singling with one out. Nick Madrigal came off the bench to replace Mercedes as a pinch-runner. Yasmani Grandal did what he does best by walking to move the go-ahead run into scoring position.
That brought up Nick Williams, who proceeded to have his most memorable moment during his short stint in a White Sox uniform.
Williams drew the ire of fans early in the year for constantly being inserted into the lineup despite his lack of production. Williams made the roster because of the injuries that had decimated the White Sox outfield.
Williams hits a soft ground ball to Indians’ first baseman Yu Chang. Chang threw to second base in an attempt to start an inning-ending double play. However, his throw doinked off the back of Yasmani Grandal’s helmet. As the ball ricocheted towards the outfield, Nick Madrigal made a mad dash home and scored standing up. All Yasmani could do was laugh as the White Sox came out of the dugout to celebrate.
A walk-off fielder’s choice from the bat of Nick Williams is not the most glamorous way to win a game. When he came to the plate, the White Sox had a 70.3 % chance of winning the game. Add the fact that Williams, who had the winning RBI, and Nick Madrigal who scored the winning run, are no longer on the team and you have yourself the most forgettable walk-off win of the season.