Tuesday’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres featured a diving catch that you have to see to believe from Diamondbacks outfielder Jake McCarthy.
The play occurred in the bottom of the eighth inning with the Diamondbacks clinging to an 8-5 lead. San Diego had the tying runner at the plate with two runners on base.
Padres catcher Austin Nola could have tied up the game. However, he was on the receiving end of an absolutely unreal catch from McCarthy. The ball looked to be going out of play, but McCarthy miraculously tumbled over the right field wall to make the diving catch to end the inning.
What a catch by Jake McCarthy! ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/ebQ7OOeiv4
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) April 4, 2023
Fans took to social media to praise McCarthy for his fantastic effort on this play.
JAKE MCCARTHY. 😳🤯
What a grab!
(via @BALLYSPORTSAZ) pic.twitter.com/kVW9wsT0Ph
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 4, 2023
Jake McCarthy WHAT A CATCH pic.twitter.com/jOgldvplb4
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) April 4, 2023
JAKE MCCARTHY GOES ALL OUT! pic.twitter.com/VXg2dttIki
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) April 4, 2023
JAKE MCCARTHY INTO THE STANDS FOR THE CATCH!!
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) April 4, 2023
Jake McCarthy with an early Catch of the Year candidate 👇pic.twitter.com/pwnJ5ISNR0
— Caesars Sportsbook & Casino (@CaesarsSports) April 4, 2023
Holy moly, Jake McCarthy makes one of the best running catches I've ever seen at Petco Park, colliding with and tumbling over the wall in right field. Reminiscent of Manuel Margot in the 2020 ALCS here.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) April 4, 2023
This catch would be a huge factor in the end result for the Diamondbacks. They would go on to defeat the Padres 8-6 in the game.
Nobody exactly knows how the rest of Austin Nola’s at-bat would have gone if he hadn’t made this catch. Fortunately for the Diamondbacks, McCarthy emphatically ended the huge rally chance for San Diego.
Arizona has had an extremely difficult start to its season against tough NL West rivals like the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. However, the Diamondbacks have fared quite well, starting the season at 3-3.
Considering Arizona finished the season at 74-88 last year, a promising 2023 season could be in order.
[The Comeback on Twitter] Photo Credit: Bally Sports