Daniel Vogelbach delivered one of the wildest endings you’ll see in a baseball game. The Brewers trailed the Cardinals 5-1 in the bottom of the ninth when Jackie Bradley Jr. kicked things off with a double. A couple hits later, the score was 5-2, with two runners on and the Cardinals trying to close it out. The Brewers sent Vogelbach to the plate as a pinch hitter. First pitch, he watches. Then he talks to his bat, telling it to wake up. Second pitch, middle of the zone. Vogelbach turns on it and crushes a 97 mph fastball for a walk-off grand slam. Four runs, one swing, ballgame.
It was the rare combination of three game-changing plays at once: a grand slam, a pinch-hit home run, and a walk-off. The stadium erupted. His teammates stormed the field. The Gatorade bath hit mostly Jackie Bradley Jr., who helped start the rally, with Vogelbach dodging most of it. Players threw in some awkward punches, hugs, and slaps, and everyone looked thrilled and confused at the same time. The dugout stayed out to celebrate even after the broadcast interview, which doesn’t happen often. The whole thing had a backyard baseball feel, like everyone forgot this was a major league game for a moment and just had fun. One of those rare times when theatrics, timing, and chaos all hit perfectly.