MINNEAPOLIS — Derek Jeter’s instincts strike again.
This time the Yankees captain managed to catch a glimpse of Nick Punto motoring around third base in last night’s eighth inning. Jeter had just snared Denard Span’s grounder through the middle and realized he had no play at first base. So he threw home.
By the time Punto hit the brakes, between third and home, it was too late. Jorge Posada’s throw to Alex Rodriguez nailed Punto, and the tying run was removed from scoring position.
“It’s great to have a smart guy in the middle of the infield,” manager Joe Girardi said, referring to Jeter, following the Yankees’ 4-1 victory over the Twins in Game 3 of the ALDS.
Even if this defensive gem didn’t rate with Jeter’s “flip play” in the 2001 ALDS at Oakland, it was another big postseason moment for the Yankees shortstop.
With the Yankees leading 2-1, Punto doubled leading off the eighth against Phil Hughes. Jeter then gloved Span’s grounder, which seemed destined for center field.
“You can’t throw out Span at first,” Jeter said. “I saw Punto out of the corner of my eye and I was waiting for him to go home.”
Punto said he was fooled by the Twins’ 10th man — the 54,735 fans in attendance for the team’s final game at the Metrodome.
“The crowd noise got me a little bit,” Punto said. “They were probably just excited that they saw there wasn’t going to be a play at first base. Fifty-five thousand people screaming, I kind of felt like the ball might have gotten through.”
Punto said he didn’t pick up his third-base coach until it was too late.
“It’s a huge play in that game,” Punto said. “I can’t let that happen. It’s a little tough to swallow there.”
After Punto was erased, Orlando Cabrera flied out and Joe Mauer grounded out. The Yankees added two insurance runs in the ninth.
“Nick Punto, no one felt worse than him,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “He had his head down, he didn’t pick up [his coach] and Jeter makes a play and there you have it.”