The San Francisco Giants defeated the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Defensive plays in extra innings had a lot to do with that.
San Francisco benefited from a play that the Phillies did not make in the 10th inning. Then, in the 11th, the Giants were bolstered by a play they did execute.
With the Giants ahead 7-4 heading into the 11th inning, Philadelphia’s Johan Camargo led the inning off. He hit a high foul ball, which San Francisco’s first baseman, Wilmer Flores had a chance to catch. He did just that, though not without some drama.
https://twitter.com/MrMatthewCFB/status/1531841211375435777
Wilmer’s concentration 😲 pic.twitter.com/acMTFALaSA
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 1, 2022
While first base umpire Larry Vanover initially ruled that the ball was not caught, the Giants challenged and — after a short review — the call was overturned.
MLB fans were excited to comment on the play.
Wilmer should get credit for two outs for this double catch. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/7Hfz8yxwlH
— DavidXF (@SanDiegoGiants) June 1, 2022
It's a catch. Wilmer is the best. #SFGiants
— R.Layanda (@RLayanda) June 1, 2022
Yooooo. How did Wilmer catch that?! Wilmer stans are getting FED.
— Niko 🌚 (@NLabendeira) June 1, 2022
WHAT A CATCH!
We have Dwight Clark.. Willie Mays.. and now Wilmer Flores! Haha 😃 #SFGiants
— Geoff (@TheGiantsFan916) June 1, 2022
There are plays where the manifest necessity of replay review becomes glaringly obvious. That Wilmer Flores catch was one such play. #SFGiants
— Freedom & Whisky 🇮🇪🇺🇸🥃 (@TheBlueApe) June 1, 2022
The Phillies and their fans have been on the other side of a similar play. In the 1980 World Series, Philadelphia catcher Bob Boone appeared to drop a pop-up, only for Pete Rose to swoop in and catch it before it hit the ground. This play, though, probably won’t be remembered as fondly in Philadelphia.
The final two innings of Tuesday’s game do show how important good defense is in baseball. It’s a reminder that would have served the Phillies well before the season.
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