Intentional walk turns into an out, a breakdown
What Happened
In the bottom of the eighth inning of a tight game between the Chicago Cubs and the Miami Marlins, the Marlins intentionally walk Jesus Sanchez to first base with the Cubs trailing by two runs. This is an unusual situation, as Sanchez begins walking to first base after the intentional walk. However, the Marlins then decide to pinch-run for Sanchez, which surprises many observers, including the broadcast team. As Sanchez stops walking to first base after hearing his name called for the pinch-runner, Cubs manager David Ross notices that the new Marlins runner, who has taken Sanchez's place, has not touched first base. Ross quickly alerts the umpire, who confirms that the new runner must touch the base to be awarded the base. The umpire then initiates an appeal play, and Marlins pitcher Richard Bleier throws the ball over to first baseman Cody Bellinger, who tags the base. The umpire then rules the new Marlins runner out, much to the confusion of both teams and the broadcast crew. Sanchez, still standing near first base, questions whether he should request a rule check, but the umpires explain that the out call on the pinch-runner is correct, as he did not touch the base. "I'm like, 'Cool, man. Good, nice noticing,'" says Cubs manager David Ross, praising his team's awareness of the situation. The bizarre sequence of events leaves everyone scratching their heads, as it's something that many baseball veterans say they've never seen before. "Bizarre, but the rules are the rules, I guess," the broadcast team remarks, as they try to make sense of the unusual play. Despite the confusion, the umpires correctly apply the rules, and the Marlins' pinch-runner is ruled out, preserving the Cubs' two-run deficit as they look to mount a comeback in the late innings.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentCubs are down two runs bottom of the
eighth first base is open so they
intentionally walk Jesus Sanchez and
he's on his way to first base this is
something I've never seen before and a
lot of baseball people have never seen
before breakdown is brought to you by
DraftKings as he's running down to first
base after being intentionally walked
the Marlins pinch run for him which I
don't fully understand so he stops cuz
he hears his name being called and the
home PL umpire is pointing at him so he
stops because he's being pinch run for
so they can guarantee they go up five
runs in the eighth I don't really
understand but anyway Council on the
Cubs watches all this happen he says
wait he didn't touch first base the new
Runner comes in POS touches First
Council says uh hey James hey hey man he
did not touch first base I'm like cool
man good nice noticing he's like well do
I have to appeal that he's like I guess
so so I have to appeal at first base
right now hell yeah appeal at first base
appeal at first base
yeah appeal at first
base when the ball is in play no no guys
guys they just throw it over Bellinger
catches it umps like the ball's dead and
uh yeah Bell's like uh what do you want
to do coach uh he's like come set come
set then appeal you know how it works
Merryweather throws it over to Bellinger
touches the base umpire's like going to
need a chat guys going to need a chat
council's like M yeah M go talk about it
yep m
m yeah that's definitely the rule yep so
go tell him he's out so the pinch Runner
is out he didn't do anything Sanchez is
like wait what's going on he's like can
I ask for a rule check for that well
it's going to say that that he's got to
touch first base you're saying you know
the rule he's like yeah you got to touch
first base hey man you never touch first
base he's like so the ball's dead I I'm
getting in pinch Run for the next guy
touches for why would any of this matter
what but I didn't get out right my
intentional walk stands this just B he's
out as pinch Runner okay fine cool
bizarre but the rules are the rules I
guess there's some loophole where that
gets exploited maybe thanks DraftKings
for sponsoring the video appreciate you