In his first start with the Tigers on Monday night, Ezequiel Carrera showed his value when Jacoby Ellsbury of the New York Yankees smashed the ball deep into the left-center outfield gap with the bases full in the bottom of the third inning.

The 27–year-old rookie center fielder made a replay-worthy diving catch at Yankee Stadium that kept at least two runs from scoring. Jamal Collier of MLB.com tells what happened: 

Carrera raced back and dove, fully extended, for the ball over his head, and secured the ball in the heel of his glove, sliding at the edge of the warning track.

Derek Jeter, who was on first for the Yankees, can be seen mouthing the word "Wow" after the dramatic save.

Though Ichiro Suzuki scored from third on the sacrifice fly for New York’s first run, Carrera prevented the bases from clearing. Brian McCann also drove in a run later in the inning, giving the Yanks 2-0 lead.

Carrera joined two games in progress as a defensive replacement with Detroit since being recalled from the minors after a three-way mega-trade last Thursday.

"Although Carrera was primarily a leadoff hitter in the minors," Collier writes, "Tigers manager Brad Ausmus elected to bat him second in the series opener to help ease his transition."

Max Scherzer was the Tigers' starter, and his wife reacts to the play on Twitter:

Read more: MLB.com