Bogaerts' on-base streak ends in wacky way
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SAN DIEGO -- Xander Bogaerts’ on-base streak is over -- and it’s difficult to envision a stranger way for it to end.
Bogaerts, who had set a Padres record by reaching base in each of his first 30 games this season, appeared to have extended that streak Wednesday afternoon with a fifth-inning single in the Padres’ 7-1 victory over the Reds at Petco Park.
Instead, Juan Soto’s baserunning gaffe negated Bogaerts’ single, turning it into one of the more unlikely forceouts you’ll ever see.
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With Soto on first base, Bogaerts sent a sharp line drive to right, where Reds right fielder Stuart Fairchild attempted to make a diving catch. Instead, the ball short-hopped into Fairchild’s glove.
Soto, who had already rounded second, turned to see Fairchild holding the baseball and assumed it had been caught on the fly. He retouched second base and headed back toward first – much to the consternation of Bogaerts, who was standing at first base waiting for him.
Fairchild tossed the ball to second for what was ruled a 9-4 forceout.
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And, sure, any 9-4 forceout is a strange one. But this one offered a particularly unique set of circumstances. Soto had actually touched second base. But Bogaerts would not receive credit for a hit, because Soto proceeded to give that base up.
Rule 7.08(e) reads:
If the forced runner, after touching the next base, retreats for any reason towards the base he had last occupied, the force play is reinstated, and he can again be put out if the defense tags the base to which he is forced.
Because Soto retouched second and retreated toward first, his initial touching of second base was negated. He was out at second just like any other forceout -- which, by rule, does not count as a time on base for the batter.
“It’s baseball,” Bogaerts said. “You never know what to expect. Every day is different. … Obviously, Soto didn’t want to do it on purpose. I’ll get more [hits].”
Bogaerts had two more chances to reach base. In the sixth, he popped to shallow left, where Reds shortstop Jose Barrero made an excellent over-the-shoulder catch. In the eighth, he struck out.
Bogaerts finished 0-for-5. Still, he’s off to a torrid start to his Padres tenure, with a slash line of .291/.378/.479.
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“I wish there was a loophole, because he was standing on base at one point,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “Just obviously with the line drive, it was tough to read. His streak stops. Start a new one after the off-day.”
On Monday, Bogaerts extended his streak to 30 games, passing Bobby Brown’s franchise-record 29-game on-base streak to begin a season, set in 1983. Bogaerts’ overall streak had technically grown to 32 games, as he reached in each of his last two games with the Red Sox last season.
The Padres’ all-time record on-base streak at any point in a season belongs to Ryan Klesko, who reached base in 56 straight games during the 2002 season.