'I couldn't believe I did that': Daring IKF swipes home

NEW YORK -- As far back as Isiah Kiner-Falefa can remember, each visit to third base has included the fantasy of breaking toward home plate, sliding safely through a cloud of dirt in baseball’s most exciting play. He never imagined the opportunity would arise during the Subway Series.

As Kiner-Falefa danced down the baseline in the seventh inning on Wednesday night, daring pitcher Brooks Raley to step off, he was stunned to generate no reaction. Instincts took over, and Kiner-Falefa’s legs soon churned underneath him -- an exhilarating steal of home plate that was not enough in the Yankees’ 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Mets at Citi Field.

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“I just couldn’t believe I did that in the big leagues, especially in this game,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I wish the result would have been different. That was kind of a cool moment for myself, but at the end of the day, it’s a tough loss. We have to go to Boston and pick it up, and start playing better baseball.”

The Yankees settled for a split of the two-game Queens portion of the Subway Series, finishing the evening 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Kiner-Falefa’s dash proved to be one of their few offensive highlights, marking the Yankees’ first steal of home since Didi Gregorius did it against Buck Showalter’s Orioles on Aug. 27, 2016.

It was the Yankees’ first straight steal of home since Jacoby Ellsbury on April 22, 2016, vs. Tampa Bay, and the third ever in the Subway Series -- first by a Yankee. Todd Hundley stole home as the back end of a double steal on June 16, 1997 (the first Interleague game between the clubs), and Roger Cedeño did it on June 29, 2002, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“Loved it,” said manager Aaron Boone. “Just a gutsy play. A great play by him.”

Kiner-Falefa reached on a fielder’s choice that saw Josh Donaldson score the go-ahead run, coming home as second baseman Jeff McNeil’s throw skipped away from first baseman Mark Vientos. There was a pitching change, and Kiner-Falefa swiftly stole second base, then advanced to third as catcher Francisco Alvarez’s throw went into center field.

As Kiner-Falefa eyed Raley, third-base coach Luis Rojas advised him: “Don’t try to go; just get out there and force the third baseman a little closer.” With Billy McKinney batting, Raley was working from the full windup, and third baseman Eduardo Escobar played back.

Kiner-Falefa had been waiting for a chance like this since his high school days in Hawaii, and as he said: “I’ve never just had the right opportunity.” He inched down the line, wondering if it would force a balk. He knew that if he was going to go, it needed to happen early in the count.

“I got halfway, and [Raley] didn’t acknowledge me,” Kiner-Falefa said. “The third baseman [Escobar] didn’t acknowledge me. I timed it up right before he made a move. I had already committed, and the timing just worked out perfectly.”

As Alvarez popped out of his crouch, Raley realized too late that Kiner-Falefa was on the move. His pitch, an 88.2 mph sinker, buzzed up and in to McKinney, who darted out of the way. Kiner-Falefa thought Raley was trying to hit McKinney, which would have invalidated the steal of home. Mets manager Buck Showalter wondered the same; Raley insisted he had not.

"I did not expect that. I think we didn't have that one in the scouting report,” Raley said. “Something to be learned there. Hat's off to him, making a heads-up play there.”

The late action came after Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander engaged in a compelling matchup of decorated former teammates, each limiting his opponent to one run over six innings. Cole scattered four hits, walking none and striking out eight.

“They’ve got two Hall of Famers over there,” Cole said, referring to Verlander and Max Scherzer. “It’s a pleasure to take the field with that caliber type of player. As far as the atmosphere tonight, it was electric, playoff-type.”

Boone knew his bullpen was short, squeezing what he could from Cole. With Clay Holmes, Michael King and Wandy Peralta all considered unavailable due to recent workload, Jimmy Cordero and Ron Marinaccio worked the seventh, in which Brandon Nimmo was hit by a bases-loaded pitch and Starling Marte singled home the tying run.

The Yankees wasted a two-on, one-out chance in the ninth against David Robertson, who retired McKinney and pinch-hitter Willie Calhoun. They then failed to advance their automatic runner in the 10th before Nick Ramirez surrendered Nimmo’s walk-off double.

“It’s disappointing to lose, no matter what,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Our pitchers have been picking us up all year. It was a tough night tonight, but we’re looking to pick it up in Boston.”