Cesar Hernandez laid down a nice bunt ... and ended up circling the bases on a Little League homer
The Phillies took out the D-backs, 5-2, on Tuesday, but the final score belied how much of a pitchers' duel the game was until the later innings. At the start of the eighth, the Phillies were clinging to a slim 1-0 advantage and leadoff man
The bad news? No one was on base after the bunt.
The good news? That's because Hernandez somehow circled the bases. Again: On a bunt.
Hernandez's bunt was well-placed, and pitcher
Diekman's throw was low and sailed down the right-field line.
Hernandez was off to the races. He rounded second and headed toward third base. Right fielder Steven Souza Jr.'s throw wasn't even close to the mark:
Hernandez was sent home on the second error of the play, and the Phillies suddenly had a 2-0 lead -- thanks to a classic Little League homer.
The diagram of the defensive miscues was great:
A look at Cesar Hernandez's trip all the way around the bases, which unlike most, began with him going home to first in just 3.70 seconds.
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) August 8, 2018
But then again, most "HR" don't begin with a bunt. pic.twitter.com/Llvueqjthd
The ball didn't even make it back to the pitcher's mound 60 feet and 6 inches away. Yet Hernandez scored.
Now sit back and watch the play again in one burst.
Hernandez really earned that trot home.