Curtis Granderson is already having quite a year for Detroit. With nine home runs and 19 RBI, he's seemingly developed a new power approach to his game and on pace to shatter his career highs.But on Friday night, it was the gifted center fielder's glove work that wowed the crowd and had Cleveland's Grady Sizemore dropping his jaw in disbelief.
In the ninth inning with a man on and the Tigers clinging to a 1-0 lead, Sizemore belted a shot to center field that would have given Cleveland the victory. Granderson wasn't having any of that. He extended his glove above the 9-foot high wall at Progressive Field and preserved the win for a dominant Justin Verlander.
"It wasn't so much the catch, but the timing of the catch," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "If you make that catch in the first inning, it's a great catch. If you make it in the ninth, it's a great catch, but if you make it in the ninth inning of a 1-0 game with one guy on, that makes it a better catch."
It wasn't the first time Granderson pulled out his Superman cape and it probably won't be the last. In 2007, he sprawled with his left armpit over the wall to rob Wily Mo Pena of a home run in a 6-5 win over Boston. This catch may not have been as visually impressive, but considering the situation, it was no doubt more important.
"That's as big a thrill as making the crowd go nuts when you hit a walkoff home run," Granderson said.
Did You See That?
Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin celebrates after scoring on the Washington Capitals during the third period in Game 3 of their NHL Eastern Conference semi-final hockey series in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania May 6, 2009.
Jason Cohn, Reuters
A swimmer watches a wave crash over him as he prepares to dive into the Icebergs ocean pool at Bondi Beach on May 1, 2009 in Sydney, Australia.
Cameron Spencer, Getty Images
Monaco's forward Sege Gakpe (L) vies with Auxerre's defender Cedric Hengbart (R) during their French L1 football match Monaco vs Auxerre, on May 2, 2009 at the Louis II stadium in Monaco.
Valery Hache, AFP / Getty Images
Participants compete during the international women's mud wrestling contest along the East Lake on May 3, 2009 in Wuhan of Hubei Province, China. About 40 Chinese women take part in the mud wrestling preliminary contests.
China Photos / Getty Images
Washington Redskins head coach Jim Zorn, after being shown on the arena's Kiss Cam, is kissed by his wife Joy as fans look on while the Washington Capitals take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period during Game 2 of the second round of the NHL Playoffs at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., May 4, 2009.(Peter Lockey, The Washington Times/Landov) Click through to see more top photos from the sports world.
Peter Lockey, The Washington Times/Landov
Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines looks at Ricky Hatton of England laying on the ring in the second round of their Junior Welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2, 2009 in Las Vegas. Pacquiao stopped Hatton in the second round to match a boxing record by taking a title in his sixth different weight class. (Gabriel Bouys, AFP/Getty Images)
Gabriel Bouys, AFP / Getty Images
Miranda Cooper, right, was quite embarrassed when one of golfer Jason Dufner's tee shots landed in her lap during the Quail Hollow Championship. After the rare occurrence, rules official Tony Wallin allowed Dufner to take his next shot from a spot on the ground underneath where the 18-year-old was sitting. (Chuck Burton, AP)
Chuck Burton, AP
Jockey Calvin Borel atop Mine That Bird celebrates his win in the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2009 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. (Andy Lyons, /Getty Images)
Andy Lyons, Getty Images
Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics puts up a shot past Derrick Rose #1 and Brad Miller #52 of the Chicago Bulls in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 30, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. (Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images)
Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images
Actress Sherri Shepherd smacks WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler during a match between Ziggler and M.V.P at WWE SmackDown at Madison Square Garden on April 28, 2009 in New York City. (George Napolitano, Getty Images)
George Napolitano, Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-09-2009 @ 10:35PM
Anthony said...
Apparently you did not see the Reed Johnson catch that robbed Prince Fielder of a Grand Slam. GO CUBS
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 11:40PM
Kristina said...
yeah stupid granderson I wanted us to win that game. poor Grady.
Reply
5-09-2009 @ 11:48PM
dstinnettusa said...
Hell the video of the ball girl hitting 2 sides of the corner to catch a foul ball was way better
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:08AM
Frank and Angela said...
Outstanding catch. You guys knocking it are idiots
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:24AM
jrisnt said...
Johnson's catch was even better than this one - more difficult timing and a reach over the wall - as Anthony said, GO CUBS !!!!
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 12:55AM
dylanhounddog said...
I love yo see the Tigers beat the indians.What a bunch of jerks in cleveland.
Reply
5-10-2009 @ 4:46AM
pollyhanaha said...
Another spectacular catch
Third inning of Game 6 of the 1991 World Series
MN Twins vs Atlanta Braves
Kirby Puckett
(Go to 1:00 in video) At http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrhXXzzvbA8
Reply