Brandon Finnegan could've used a 'slippery when wet' sign for the pitching rubber
The Atlanta area got about a quarter inch of rain on Tuesday, and Turner Field was still a bit damp for the start of the Reds' 3-1 win over the Braves. While it wasn't a lot, there was at least enough moisture on the pitching mound that Brandon Finnegan's attempted pickoff move in the bottom of the first did not go entirely as planned:
Jolting around to try to catch Mallex Smith straying a little too far from second, Finnegan's foot slipped out right from under him and down he went. This is one of those times when a "slippery when wet" sign for the rubber would've come in handy.
Fortunately, Finnegan recovered quickly, and he went on to pitch six innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out five. And he holds no grudges against the rubber.
"Some would call it athletic, but it was awesome," Finnegan told MLB.com's Pat James after the game. "It's part of the game. I thought it was funny. I looked over at [Brandon Phillips] while I was on the field, and he had his glove just dying laughing. If you can't laugh about it, it's not fun."