Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling avoiding tag from Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien. Photo Credit: Bally Sports Detroit
FeaturedMLBBy Reice Shipley on

Baserunning is one skill in baseball that can oftentimes be overlooked as a key part of the game. However, Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling caught the eye of the MLB world with a spectacular slide, avoiding a tag on a play where it looked certain that he would be out.

Vierling led off the top of the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers with the Tigers leading the game 7-2. He already had two hits in the game, and added to that with a line drive into left field for a hit.

Rangers left fielder Ezequiel Durán got to the ball quickly. The smart move for Vierling would have been to just take his single. Instead, he decided to boldly test Duran’s arm and try to take second base.

The throw from Durán was at the base before Vierling got there. However, Vierling miraculously avoided the tag by shifting his body over the tag of Rangers’ second baseman Marcus Semien.

Former MLB outfielder turned Tigers broadcast analyst Craig Monroe beautifully detailed the move on the call of the close-up replay of Vierling’s slide.

“That was an excellent athletic move,” said Monroe. “Right away he was thinking two. That is not a normal double. He made that a double with the hustle and this slide.”

Fans at home also took notice of the play from Vierling, praising him for his great effort on social media.

The Tigers would go on to strand Vierling at second base in the ninth inning, but he certainly earned some more fans with this spectacular slide.

[The Comeback on Twitter]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.

View all posts by Reice Shipley