Roger Bernadina’s amazing catch in the fifth inning wasn’t the only incredible play in Friday’s 6-5 loss to the Marlins. How about that slide from Omar Infante in the top of the 11th to avoid a certain out at home plate and deliver the eventual winning run. Check out the video of the play here.
Not sure what the Nats could have done better. When Greg Dobbs ripped a double into the right-field corner it looked like an easy run for Florida. But Jayson Werth rifled the ball into the relay man, second baseman Jerry Hairston. His throw home wasn’t even perfect – but it was quick and beat Infante easily. Out at home, right? Wrong. Infante lifted his arm over the sweeping tag of catcher Wilson Ramos, slammed his hand in the dirt, but still off the plate, and then stretched his fingertips to touch home before Ramos slammed the glove down on him for real. Great play.
“I was telling [a teammate] it was almost like the play, from Werth picking the ball up to the relay to the tag, we executed it so well that it was almost too fast,” Nats shortstop Ian Desmond said. “Like, Ramos caught the ball and slid the tag and [Infante] wasn’t even there yet. And then by the time he realized he had already come back around. But that was about as perfectly executed cutoff and relay as you could really have. He just had a good slide.”
Nats manager Jim Riggleman actually came out and argued – though later said he shouldn’t have bother. He knew the call was the right one by home plate umpire Paul Nauert. Just didn’t want reliever Brian Broderick getting ejected for arguing himself.
“Ramos did what you’re taught,” Hairston said. “[Infante] just made a great slide.”
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