‘One of the Wildest Plays in Baseball Playoff History’: Brewers Turn Potential Disaster into a Double Play
Screenshot
It didn’t take long for this year’s NLCS to deliver what play-by-play man Brian Anderson called “one of the wildest plays in baseball playoff history.”
In Game 1, with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth, Max Muncy hit a fly ball to deep center field, where Sal Frelick tried to make a leaping catch above the top of the wall. The ball landed in Frelick’s glove before popping out and hitting the top of the wall, with Frelick snagging the ball off the carom.
As the play unfolded, it was tough for viewers – and more crucially, Dodgers baserunners – to tell if Frelick caught the ball. Teoscar Hernandez, who has on third, stayed on the bag preparing to tag up if Frelick caught the ball. Once the ball hit Frelick’s glove, Hernandez briefly broke for home. But when the ball came out, Hernandez retreated to the bag, perhaps thinking Frelick had bobbled the ball without the ball hitting the wall.
Frelick fired to cutoff man Joey Ortiz, whose throw home beat Hernandez to the plate for the force out. Will Smith, who was the runner on second base, stayed at second, even though the force was on, which meant he should have broken for third. After catching the second out at home, Brewers catcher William Contreras opted to jog to third base to tag the bag for the third out.
Amid the confusion, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts challenged the call, which was confirmed.
A high view of the stadium shows the chaotic play. After the ball hits the wall, right field umpire Mark Ripperger can be seen making the “safe” call, indicating that Frelick had not caught the ball.
“It’s chaos on the bases!” exclaimed Anderson, who seemingly believed Frelick had caught the ball and the force play at home was off. That would mean Contreros would have had to tag Hernandez instead of just stepping on the plate with the ball. As a result, Anderson originally told viewers Hernandez was safe.
“That’s one of the craziest plays you’ve ever seen,” Anderson added, talking to everyone.
“This is crazy,” color commentator Jeff Francoeur reacted.
“It’s gonna go 8-6-2-unassisted to third,” Anderson said for the baseball geeks at home. “One of the wildest plays in baseball playoff history right there. Unreal double play, and the Brewers are out of this inning.
Watch above via TBS.
