Bunting is generally lame and boring, but that’s because it usually results in an out or a weak single at a time when baseballs are leaving the yard at a record rate.
But if you can bunt for an extra-base hit? Well then it’s definitely worth doing!
The St. Louis Cardinals’ Matt Carpenter was able to get that done on Monday night when the Miami Marlins put on the shift, leaving the entire left side of the infield open. Carpenter got a stand-up double that didn’t even demand a throw, and was fielded by pitcher Elieser Hernandez.
Matt Carpenter just bunted for a double… yes, you read that correctly! pic.twitter.com/mtJUNpG4ji
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 18, 2019
That’s one way to beat the shift. And it’s something that surely stunned the Marlins after Carpenter cranked a dinger in his previous at-bat.
Number 1⃣0⃣ for number 1⃣3⃣
💣💣💣 pic.twitter.com/mgitoUweCE
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 18, 2019
A very versatile performance offensively from Carpenter in the Cardinals’ 5-0 win.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.