CINCINNATI -- For a split second during his no-hitter against the Giants on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park, Homer Bailey panicked.
It was the seventh inning, and Bailey had just surrendered a walk to end his run at a potential perfect game. Standing on the mound facing Buster Posey with a runner on second, he didn't want to see his chances at a second career no-hitter suffer a similar fate.
Then Posey hit what should have been a routine ground ball to first base, but Bailey, who thought Joey Votto was possibly going to catch the ball on the fly, was late breaking to the bag. So Votto made a quick decision, and instead of trying to make the play at first, he threw the ball to third to try to get Gregor Blanco, who had broken from second when the batted ball hit the dirt.
"I saw him throw it, and I was like, 'What are you doing?'" Bailey said. "He ended up getting the guy, so good play."
For Bailey, the best part of the play is that it was ruled a fielder's choice, which preserved his no-hitter. And two innings later, he closed the deal by retiring Blanco in the final at-bat.
After spoiling Bailey's perfect game with the leadoff walk in the seventh, Blanco thought he had an easy path from second to third on Posey's ground ball.
"The pitcher didn't cover first base, and I was halfway [between bases]," Blanco said. "They were supposed to get the out at first base, but the pitcher didn't cover first base."
As far as no-hitters go, Bailey's was void of many outstanding plays behind him. And although Votto did nothing more than make a simple throw across the diamond, it turned out to be the biggest play of the game.
"The play that saved the no-hitter is the play that Joey Votto made," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "I don't think Homer could have beaten Posey to the bag, because he didn't break right away. He didn't cover the bag.
"That would have been a sad way to lose a no-hitter."
You tryin to be a hero fool? You wanna see badass mother fucker?! I'll show ya a badass!!!
No shit retard I already said he should have gone to first base but I can see the miatake being an easy one. I don't see verlander running to first on a pop up
You tryin to be a hero fool? You wanna see badass mother fucker?! I'll show ya a badass!!!
Starters C: Joe Mauer, Twins 1B: Chris Davis, Orioles 2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees SS: J.J. Hardy, Orioles 3B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers OF: Mike Trout, Angels OF: Adam Jones, Orioles OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
Pitchers RHP: Clay Buchholz *, Red Sox LHP: Brett Cecil, Blue Jays RHP: Bartolo Colon @, A's RHP: Jesse Crain *, White Sox RHP: Yu Darvish, Rangers RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners RHP: Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners RHP: Justin Masterson, Indians RHP: Joe Nathan, Rangers LHP: Glen Perkins @, Twins RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox RHP: Max Scherzer, Tigers RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers
Reserves C: Jason Castro, Astros C: Salvador Perez, Royals 1B: Prince Fielder, Tigers 2B: Jason Kipnis, Indians 2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox 2B: Ben Zobrist, Rays SS: Jhonny Peralta: Tigers 3B: Manny Machado, Orioles OF: Nelson Cruz, Rangers OF: Alex Gordon, Royals OF: Torii Hunter, Tigers DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
Comments
It was the seventh inning, and Bailey had just surrendered a walk to end his run at a potential perfect game. Standing on the mound facing Buster Posey with a runner on second, he didn't want to see his chances at a second career no-hitter suffer a similar fate.
Then Posey hit what should have been a routine ground ball to first base, but Bailey, who thought Joey Votto was possibly going to catch the ball on the fly, was late breaking to the bag. So Votto made a quick decision, and instead of trying to make the play at first, he threw the ball to third to try to get Gregor Blanco, who had broken from second when the batted ball hit the dirt.
"I saw him throw it, and I was like, 'What are you doing?'" Bailey said. "He ended up getting the guy, so good play."
For Bailey, the best part of the play is that it was ruled a fielder's choice, which preserved his no-hitter. And two innings later, he closed the deal by retiring Blanco in the final at-bat.
After spoiling Bailey's perfect game with the leadoff walk in the seventh, Blanco thought he had an easy path from second to third on Posey's ground ball.
"The pitcher didn't cover first base, and I was halfway [between bases]," Blanco said. "They were supposed to get the out at first base, but the pitcher didn't cover first base."
As far as no-hitters go, Bailey's was void of many outstanding plays behind him. And although Votto did nothing more than make a simple throw across the diamond, it turned out to be the biggest play of the game.
"The play that saved the no-hitter is the play that Joey Votto made," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "I don't think Homer could have beaten Posey to the bag, because he didn't break right away. He didn't cover the bag.
"That would have been a sad way to lose a no-hitter."
American League
Starters
C: Joe Mauer, Twins
1B: Chris Davis, Orioles
2B: Robinson Cano, Yankees
SS: J.J. Hardy, Orioles
3B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Adam Jones, Orioles
OF: Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox
Pitchers
RHP: Clay Buchholz *, Red Sox
LHP: Brett Cecil, Blue Jays
RHP: Bartolo Colon @, A's
RHP: Jesse Crain *, White Sox
RHP: Yu Darvish, Rangers
RHP: Felix Hernandez, Mariners
RHP: Hisashi Iwakuma, Mariners
RHP: Justin Masterson, Indians
RHP: Joe Nathan, Rangers
LHP: Glen Perkins @, Twins
RHP: Mariano Rivera, Yankees
LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox
RHP: Max Scherzer, Tigers
RHP: Justin Verlander, Tigers
Reserves
C: Jason Castro, Astros
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: Prince Fielder, Tigers
2B: Jason Kipnis, Indians
2B: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
2B: Ben Zobrist, Rays
SS: Jhonny Peralta: Tigers
3B: Manny Machado, Orioles
OF: Nelson Cruz, Rangers
OF: Alex Gordon, Royals
OF: Torii Hunter, Tigers
DH: Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays
National League
Starters
C: Yadier Molina, Cardinals
1B: Joey Votto, Reds
2B: Brandon Phillips, Reds
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
3B: David Wright, Mets
OF: Carlos Beltran, Cardinals
OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
Pitchers
LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
LHP: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
LHP: Patrick Corbin, D-backs
RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins
RHP: Jason Grilli, Pirates
RHP: Matt Harvey, Mets
LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Braves
LHP: Cliff Lee, Phillies
LHP: Jeff Locke, Pirates
RHP: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals
LHP: Travis Wood, Cubs
RHP: Jordan Zimmermann, Nationals
Reserves
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs
1B: Allen Craig, Cardinals
2B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
2B: Marco Scutaro, Giants
SS: Everth Cabrera, Padres
SS: Jean Segura, Brewers
3B: Pedro Alvarez, Pirates
OF: Domonic Brown, Phillies
OF: Michael Cuddyer, Rockies
OF: Carlos Gomez, Brewers
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
NOTES
* Chosen on Player Ballot, injured
@ Injury replacement
Cargo \m/
Cuddy \m/