A squirrel invaded Yankee Stadium during Tuesday night’s game between the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees, both entertaining and horrifying fans by how close it got to them in the stands.
Prior to making its way toward the fans, the squirrel was spotted walking along the top of the outfield wall near the Yankees bullpen. Later on, it strolled along the outfield grass before going back up near the seats and greeting the terrified fans.
According to MLB.com’s Henry Palattella, the outfield wall where the squirrel fell/jumped from came from a height of eight feet and five inches.
The animal worked as a “rally squirrel” of sorts, as New York fell behind 4-0 early, before coming back to win 6-5 in 10 innings.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole had an uncharacteristically shaky outing — allowing five runs (all earned) in six hits with three walks and just two strikeouts — but Aaron Judge hit a game-tying solo home run off of Orioles star closer Felix Bautista in the bottom of the ninth to send the contest to extra innings. Rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe sent the fans home happy with a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th.
The squirrel adventures of Tuesday night comes as MLB has recently dealt with an unfortunate bird-killing epidemic.
On Monday night, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Will Brennan accidentally killed a bird after hitting the feathered friend with a base hit to left field. Last week, Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen was warming up in the outfield before a game and accidentally struck a bird in mid-flight.
Luckily, the squirrel stayed out of harm’s way on Tuesday in the Bronx and could even make its way back to the stadium for Wednesday’s game between the Yankees and Orioles.
