Ty + Polo + J.P. + Cal = CRAZY way to escape a jam
ANAHEIM -- It wasn’t quite how Bryan Woo drew it up, but he’ll take it.
The Mariners right-hander found himself in a jam in the bottom of the first inning on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
Having already allowed a two-run homer to Willie Calhoun, the 24-year-old was trying to navigate the inning without further damage.
And he did -- but only thanks to a bit of good fortune and some quick thinking by the infielders behind him.
With runners on first and second and two outs, Mickey Moniak cracked a single off the glove of first baseman Ty France at an exit velocity of 100.4 mph. Slowed by France’s attempt, the ball didn’t make it all the way to right field, instead being corralled by second baseman Jorge Polanco, whose throw to Woo covering first base bounced and rolled across the infield.
Enter shortstop J.P. Crawford, who raced in from second base to grab the ball behind the mound and fire to catcher Cal Raleigh, who placed the tag on Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who had initially held up at third, for the final out of the inning.
“That was a heck of a play,” manager Scott Servais said, even cracking a smile despite Seattle’s 6-5 defeat in 10 innings. “A heads-up play. The ball was flying all over the place there.
“But heads-up for J.P. He comes in, makes a barehanded throw to Cal. We needed every out there early to get Bryan rolling, or to get him on a roll, but it just wasn’t his night.”