EXTRA SPECIAL: Yankees teammates celebrate with Russell Martin at home plate after the catcher’s solo home run in the 10th inning lifted the Bombers past the Athletics. (Neil Miller)
There is no reason for Chris Chambliss, Bucky Dent or Aaron Boone to make room for Russell Martin. “The Biggest Home Runs in Yankee History” fraternity remains at three.
Yet, when this season is talked about, Martin’s game-winning homer last night against the A’s at Yankee Stadium easily lands in the category of “Biggest Hit of The Season.’’
“I don’t know, but I’ll take it,’’ Martin said of his blast to left off lefty reliever Sean Doolittle that propelled the Yankees to a 2-1 victory in 10 innings that was witnessed by 40,759.
Martin crushed a belt-high fastball, and from the moment ball hit bat, CC Sabathia knew his eight brilliant innings weren’t going to be wasted.
“Right there,’’ Sabathia said pointing to a clubhouse couch when asked where he was when Martin allowed the Yankees to remain a game ahead of the second-place Baltimore in the AL East with a dozen games remaining via their sixth straight win. “Every game and every hit is big from here on out.’’
The Orioles beat the Red Sox 4-2 last night at Fenway Park.
Martin was in position to win the game because Rafael Soriano flushed a 1-0 lead by giving up a towering, pinch-hit homer to Brandon Moss with one out in the ninth. He added to the angst by issuing a pair of two-out walks before fanning Seth Smith and sending the game into extra frames.
“His arm was a little dead today,’’ Joe Girardi said of Soriano. “It’s not injury-related. It’s because he threw two games in one day [Wednesday]. He wanted to pitch [Thursday]. He has worked a lot for us.’’
In easily his best outing in almost a month, Sabathia hurled eight shutout innings, allowed three hits, walked two, hit a batter and fanned 11.
“Obviously, he’s our ace and you want him feeling good about himself,’’ Martin said of Sabathia, who hasn’t won since Aug. 24. “I think he needed this start for himself.’’
Sabathia didn’t allow a hit until Stephen Drew’s leadoff single in the sixth. Had the eighth frame been a little easier on Sabathia, Girardi said he may have let him start the ninth. But Sabathia gave up two singles and hit a batter so the Yankees manager decided his ace’s night was done after 113 pitches.
“To be part of a win feels good,’’ said Sabathia, who watched the Yankees lose his last four starts.
Curtis Granderson’s sacrifice fly in the fourth off Jarrod Parker was the game’s lone run until Moss’ homer off Soriano. In eight innings Parker allowed a run on six hits, didn’t issue a walk and fanned seven.
A brief conversation with hitting coach Kevin Long prepared Martin for the hero role.
“Kevin told me to get the [bat] head out,’’ said Martin, who also had a game-ending homer against the Mets on June 10. “It was a fastball, belt-high.’’
Girardi didn’t hesitate when asked if Martin’s blast was the biggest hit of the season for the Yankees.
“I would have say, with 13 games to go and we’re fighting to win the division,’’ Girardi said. “That’s a huge hit.’’
Again, it’s not in the class of Chambliss, Dent and Boone. But in the context of late September in a bitter pennant race, it’s easily the biggest homer of the Yankees’ season.
george.king@nypost.com