D.J. LeMahieu came to bat with two outs in the eighth inning Sunday at Coors Field with Colorado already facing what felt like an insurmountable four-run deficit.
And, in what was probably the two-time all-star’s last plate appearance in purple pinstripes, the free agent-to be stepped into the box amid little attention — many freezing fans were already heading for the exits — and struck out on thee pitches. LeMahieu’s strikeout was the antithesis of baseball poetry amid a kick in the teeth that was the National League division series sweep at the hands of Milwaukee.