MILWAUKEE (AP) — Max Muncy was inches away from hitting a grand slam for the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the scoring in the National League Championship Series.
Little did he know, his 400-foot drive would instead end the top of the fourth inning Monday night in one of the most incredible plays of this or any postseason.
“It’s definitely the worst fielder’s choice/double play I’ve ever hit in my life,” Muncy said afterwards. the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in game 1.
Here’s how Muncy’s potential grand slam turned into an unusual 8-6-2 doubles play:
With the bases loaded and one out, Muncy hit a long drive to center field, where Sal Frelick jumped and reached over the wall in an attempt to make the catch.
The ball shot out of Frelick’s glove and hit the top of the fence before Frelick caught it in the air. Muncy was not ruled out because the ball hit the wall, but the Dodgers runners scrambled back to their bases thinking the ball was caught with a pop.
“I didn’t see it hit the wall,” said Will Smith, who was on second base. “I just thought he brought it back and caught it.”
Aaron Gash via Getty Images
Aaron Gash via Getty Images
Frelick shot at shortstop Joey Ortiz, who quickly passed a hit to catcher William Contreras. Aware that there was still a force in force, Contreras alertly stretched for the throw with his right foot on home plate, rather than positioning himself for a tap that would have been necessary had the ball not hit the wall.
Contreras caught the ball before Teoscar Hernández slid across the plate, forcing Hernández out after hesitating at third base.
“Teo knows the rule. I think he had a little bit of a brain fart there because he realized if it hits the glove, you can tag back there,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But then he tapped, did it correctly and then saw he didn’t catch it, (and) he went back. That was the mistake. But he owned the thing. And after that, there’s nothing you can do about it.”
After the force out at home plate, Contreras smartly got up and jogged to third base to also force out Smith.
Smith had moved back to second when he thought Frelick made a clean catch.
“I had a pretty good view of it from home plate,” Contreras said through an interpreter. “I could tell almost straight away that the ball hit the wall. As soon as it hits the wall you know the ball is being played live. Great job by the guys there, they just did what we had to do to finish that play-off.”
As it all unfolded, Frelick had his arms outstretched with a questioning look on his face, wondering what exactly had just happened – as did many fans.
The Dodgers disputed the call, but a replay review confirmed the forceouts at home and third base for a highly unusual 8-6-2 inning-ending double play.
Referees called this correctly in real time throughout the game.
“Honestly, I didn’t know they considered it a no-catch,” Roberts said. “I just wanted clarity on the whole situation. And then make sure they got some forceouts, which they did. And ultimately, those guys and the replay, the guys on the field, got it right. They did a good job.”
At 400 feet, it was the second-longest projected distance on a batted ball resulting in a double play since Statcast tracking in 2015, including regular season games.
There had not been an 8-6-2 doubles match in the postseason in 35 years, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. This kind of official scoring data is not always evident in data that goes further back.
The most recent 8-6-2 double play in the regular season involved a ball hit by Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa off Cincinnati center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. in April 2004. – although that ball ended with a tap at the plate.
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