A bizarre play unfolded in an MLB game Friday night that must be seen to be believed.
In the top of the seventh inning, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Yunior Marte threw a pitch to Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. The pitch struck Phils catcher J.T. Realmuto in the wrist and skipped away to the backstop. He went down in pain as Pirates runner Henry Davis scampered home from third base.
Meanwhile Hayes, perhaps not realizing that the pitch had been called strike three, stood at the plate not sure what to do. He then started jogging to first base.
Marte, who had run after the ball at half speed as he eyed Realmuto, tossed it down to first base for the out.
Weird sequence in Philadelphia.
With a runner on third, Ke'Bryan Hayes strikes out looking.
But the ball gets away from catcher J.T. Realmuto, who is shaken up on the play.
Henry Davis scores on the wild pitch. Pitcher Yunior Marte throws to first, retiring Hayes. pic.twitter.com/YQGrHEG2eY
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 13, 2024
Afterward, SportsNet Pittsburgh announcers Greg Brown and Neil Walker tried to make sense of the play’s scoring.
“I’m not sure exactly how to score that,” Walker said.
“It’s a strikeout by the pitcher, who gets an assist on his strikeout,” Brown said, sounding confident, yet not confident at the same time.
Neil Walker and Greg Brown sort through it.
"I'm not exactly sure how to score that."
"It's a strikeout by the pitcher, who gets an assist on his strikeout."
So a "K-2-1-3."
"Strange happenings in Philly." https://t.co/6chAV6LpV5 pic.twitter.com/5TvvJjghAp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 13, 2024
MLB Scoring Changes quickly chimed in on X try to sort out the play.
“OK so a lot to unpack on this one, as seen on @awfulannouncing between the @Phillies and @Pirates. This officially is a strikeout and a 13 putout at first, and there is no passed ball for the advancements. The reason is because the out was recorded on the batter at first.”
By the way, Realmuto stayed in the game, and the Pirates went on to win, 5-2. There were no more zany plays to report.
[Photo Credit: SportsNet Pittsburgh]
