Jon Lester picked off Ryan Zimmerman in NLDS Game 4 and received a standing ovation from fans
If there's one thing folks know about
If there's a second thing folks know about Jon Lester, it's that he doesn't attempt pickoff throws very often. In fact, it's incredibly rare. Which is why the eighth inning of the Cubs and Nats' battle in Game 4 of the NLDS presented by T-Mobile on Wednesday was so exciting.
With the Cubs trailing, 1-0, stymied by seven marvelous innings from Washington's
Lester fired off a throw to
But then, Lester tried another pickoff move ... and it worked! Zimmerman was caught off guard by two straight throws over, and after a replay review was ruled out. It really happened.
After Murphy lined a single to center field, Joe Maddon came out to remove Lester after 3 2/3 innings of relief work out of the Cubs bullpen. Cubs fans, appropriately, gave him a hero's send-off -- probably half for the pitching and half for the pickoff throw, which, again actually happened.
But, a little later on that inning, after the the Nats loaded the bases ...
The postseason is wild. Washington won the game, 5-0, pushing the series to an all-deciding Game 5 on Thursday at 8 p.m. on TBS.