Chapman's catch 'like Willie Mays' in A's win

ARLINGTON -- Certain baseball games can develop a nickname when a specific player leaves an undeniable imprint on the final outcome. For example, Saturday night’s contest between the A’s and Rangers became "The Matt Chapman Game."

Whether on offense or defense, Chapman’s impact was felt all over the A’s 8-3 victory at Globe Life Field. In addition to bashing two home runs -- his seventh multi-homer game of his career and first this season -- the two-time Gold Glove Award-winning third baseman also produced what might be his defensive highlight of the year.

With a runner on and no outs in the fifth inning, Chapman raced out into shallow left field on a ball popped up by Brock Holt and laid out for an incredible over-the-shoulder diving catch. Picking himself up immediately, he fired the ball over to first baseman Matt Olson, narrowly missing a chance to double up Yohel Pozo, who was nearly halfway to second base at the time of the catch.

One batter later, Chapman smoothly handled a hard grounder by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and initiated a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play.

“It unfolded pretty fast,” Chapman said. “Off the bat, it felt like I wasn’t getting close to it, and then finally, I felt like I was in a spot where I could try to dive. I dove, and when I hit the ground, I felt like it was in my glove. I looked and it was, so I was pretty excited, obviously, because I just chucked it right after.”

The range of emotions emanating from the A’s dugout after the catch ranged from uncontrollable joy to utter disbelief. Manager Bob Melvin was among those struggling to comprehend what had just taken place.

“I’ve seen him do some miraculous things,” Melvin said. “But when that ball was hit, it was [supposed to be] a hit. I don’t know that anyone else gets to that.”

In the pantheon of breathtaking Chapman highlights at the hot corner, this one certainly has to rank near the top of the list. He covered a projected 74 feet at a sprint speed of 26.8 feet per second to make the catch, providing a huge assist for starter James Kaprielian in maintaining a one-run lead at the time.

Upon reviewing the highlight-reel play in the A’s clubhouse following the game, Chapman said, “It’s definitely gotta be one of the best plays I’ve ever made in my life, for sure. [My teammates] all think it’s the best play I’ve ever made. I gotta believe it’s up there. It just feels good to make plays like that. I feel like I haven’t made a diving play like that in a while. It was just a lot of fun.”

For Kaprielian, the catch was without question the best he’s ever seen in a game.

“That was like Willie Mays times Matt Chapman right there,” Kaprielian said. “That’s the best third baseman in the game, in my opinion. He shows everybody, day to day, why he’s a special player.”

From the other side, even Rangers manager Chris Woodward couldn’t help but tip his cap.

"He just doesn't have a weakness,” Woodward said of Chapman. “The mindset that this kid has when he plays defense, it reminds me of when Joey [Gallo] was in right field. It's a similar mindset of attacking everything. He had no business catching that popup. That's a base hit or double that breaks the game wide open.

“It's just frustrating. Don't hit it to the Gold Glovers. Don't hit it to the best ever. And he's obviously regarded as one of them."

Chapman entered the 2021 season motivated to capture another Gold Glove Award after last year’s season-ending hip injury denied him the chance of winning his third in a row. In the midst of a superb defensive campaign -- he entered the day leading all Major League third basemen in total chances (337), putouts (128), and fielding percentage (.988) -- Chapman appears on pace to bringing home another piece of gold hardware by season’s end.

“I feel like I’m back at the top of my game,” Chapman said. “I know that if I’m not swinging the bat, I’m able to change the game on defense. I’m able to have my range and arm strength back, because my hip is better. I feel like I’m back to the same defensive player I was when I won the Gold Gloves.”

The A’s have long waited for Chapman to get back to 2019 All-Star form on offense. His two solo homers against Texas, the second of which was his 16th of the year and 100th of his career, continued what has been an encouraging upswing at the plate.

Through five games of their current 10-game road trip, Chapman has reached base safely in 14 of his 22 plate appearances with two homers and nine walks, perhaps a sign of positive momentum as the A’s playoff push heats up with less than two months left in the regular season.

“It’s huge if we get him on a roll,” Melvin said. “As much as he means to us defensively, if he starts going offensively here in the last 40 games or whatever it is, we can be a different team. Games like this could be a springboard.”