If a runner stays alive in a rundown long enough, something good just might happen. A ball could be dropped, a base left open or a run scored before the runner is tagged out.
Sometimes, all of the above occur on the same play. That’s what happened during Friday night’s game between the Braves and the Nationals.
With Michael Bourn at second and one out, Chipper Jones grounded to pitcher Henry Rodriguez, who charged toward Bourn to prevent him from taking third. As Bourn broke back toward second, Rodriguez threw to shortstop Ian Desmond covering the bag.
Then Bourn heads toward third base, and Desmond threw to Ryan Zimmerman, who drops the ball. He scurries to pick it up, and by the time he does, both Bourn and Jones are back at second. Zimmerman fires to Chris Marrero at first to try and track down Jones while Bourn takes off for third.
Bourn was at third when Marrero threw to Danny Espinosa at second base, who glanced back at Bourn before finally tracking down Jones and applying the tag.
But no one was covering home when Bourn arrived at third!
With Bourn’s speed, he had an easy trot home to turn a rundown into a run. Score it 1-6-5-3-4, with no RBI credited, Bourn scoring on the throw and Jones reaching first on a fielder’s choice.
MLB.com’s play-by-play succinctly summarized the play: “Chipper Jones reaches on a fielder’s choice out, pitcher Henry Rodriguez to shortstop Ian Desmond to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to first baseman Chris Marrero to second baseman Danny Espinosa. Michael Bourn scores on the throw. Chipper Jones out at 2nd.”
Watch MLB’s video of this eventful rundown:
