In the ninth inning of a tied Game 5 in the 1995 ALDS, Yankees get two on with no outs and Lou Piniella calls for Randy Johnson out of the bullpen. Johnson, who had started Game 3 just two days earlier, comes in looking intense. The Seattle crowd erupts. Wade Boggs steps up trying to bunt the runners over, clearly uncomfortable facing the Big Unit. He fouls off the first bunt attempt, then pulls the bat back on the next pitch, which the umpire calls a strike. Boggs argues, but the count moves to 0-2.
The Mariners’ catcher calls for an off-speed pitch, trying to exploit Boggs’ defensive approach. Johnson wants no part of it. He shakes off the sign, steps off, and insists on a fastball. The catcher gives in. Johnson fires a high heater that blows right by Boggs for a strikeout. The stadium goes wild. That one at-bat captures Johnson’s intimidating presence and how he could dominate a moment, even on short rest and in a pressure situation.