Antics of Yankee Stadium Rally Squirrel simply nuts!
A squirrel runs on the field Friday night at Yankee Stadium during the fourth inning of a game between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Credit: Jim McIsaac
What happens if you have a Rally Squirrel but there’s no rally?
The Yankees learned that the hard way on Friday night when a squirrel invaded the field during the fourth inning of their game against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
It was nuts!
It also was the most interesting thing about the Yankees’ 1-0 loss to their longtime rivals.
Unlike the Angels’ famous Rally Monkey from the early 2000s or an actual Rally Squirrel that ran onto the field during a playoff game and inspired the St. Louis Cardinals during their 2011 World Series-winning season, the squirrel that appeared on the field on Friday did not spur the Yankees, though it did delight the fans.
The critter was first noticed as it scampered to the batters’ box in the top of the fourth, where it made contact with Red Sox hitter Jhostynxon Garcia, who was making his major-league debut.
From there, the squirrel headed toward the mound and locked eyes with Yankees lefthander Max Fried.
“That’s the first time it’s happened to me,” Fried told MLB.com after the game. “My first reaction was, ‘Don’t do anything that might embarrass you.’ I thought it was just going to run around, but it came straight to me and went in the little hole I created on the mound.”
The squirrel’s journey continued toward first base, where Ben Rice moved out of its way.
“I didn’t want to touch that thing,” Rice told MLB.com. “The guys are giving me crap for it. ‘Why are you scared of a squirrel?’ I don’t know where that thing’s been. It made a little noise at me.”
When play resumed, Fried threw his next pitch to the backstop to walk Garcia.
Perhaps the creature was actually a Red Sox Rally Squirrel? Boston didn’t score in that inning, but did plate the game’s only run in the seventh. The Yankees were held to three hits.
The squirrel’s journey continued into foul territory as it tried to find an exit. Eventually, it disappeared — just like the Yankees’ offense.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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