Baseball’s simplest play? Not in the Diamondbacks’ hands.
During the second inning of their game against the Marlins on Monday night, pitcher Caleb Smith’s bunt led to a unique sequence of events.
Arizona starter Merrill Kelly fielded the bunt, contemplated trying to throw the ball to third to catch a cheating Curtis Granderson, but instead threw wildly to first. This allowed Granderson to score easily, Harold Ramirez to advance to third and Smith to cruise into second.
Alright, errors happen even at this level. But things got worse.
Former Met Wilmer Flores picked up the errant Kelly throw and hurled it to Tim Locastro at second base, trying to nail Smith. Locastro let the ball go right past him as Smith slid into second base and easily advanced to third while Ramirez crossed home plate.
That made it 4-0 Marlins on their way to an easy 11-6 victory in Arizona. The 53-54 Diamondbacks are one of many teams in the middle of a crowded NL wild-card race trying to determine whether they should be buyers or sellers.
Perhaps this play will convince them what to do next.
