Sam Fuld" src="http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Sam-Fuld-Icon-photo-4-16-2011-e1303217829492-118x150.jpg" alt="" width="118" height="150" />JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Sam Fuld hasn’t had many chances to be a hero since rookie phenom Desmond Jennings assumed left-field duties for the Tampa Bay Rays.

But the diminutive 29-year-old made the most of a rare start Wednesday (8/10/2011), reaching base all 5 times he came to the plate and delivering a two-out, game-winning triple in the 9th inning (see video) to give the Rays an 8-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Things looked bleak for the Rays when they opened the bottom frame of the 9th inning down 7-3, but five hits sealed the win. Fuld droving in the tying run with his triple, and when Royals 2B Johnny Giavotella’s throw to third base went wide, Fuld completed the circuit home. His teammates responded by leaping on top of him in what the disheveled Stanford alum later called a “dogpile.”

“It was the craziest 360 feet I’ve ever run,” Fuld told MLB.com.”The most exciting two minutes of my life.”

Despite going 2-for-2 with three walks, Fuld almost ended up one of the game’s goats. With the Rays down 4-2 in the 8th inning, Fuld singled, and then, in an aggressive bit of baserunning, safely reached third base on Desmond Jennings’ single. Moments later, with Rays SS Sean Rodriguez at the plate, Royals catcher Salvador Perez picked off Fuld with a quick toss to 3B Mike Moustakas.

So far this season, Fuld is hitting .244 with 16 doubles, 5 triples, and 3 HRs in 279 at-bats, along with 20 stolen bases.

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