BOSTON – With 445 home runs over the course of his 17-year career in the majors, Nelson Cruz is used to jogging around the bases like he did Monday after splicing a solo home run off the Green Monster of Boston in the eighth. entry.
But before that, that trot was not the same. The Quercus hit a deep fly through center field that Alex Verdugo couldn’t catch out of the sun. Then second baseman Taylor Motter committed another sin on a throw into third base. Cruz landed an unusual “little league grand slam,” which propelled the Rays to the eventual win 11-10.
“It was fun. I definitely enjoy running like a kid. That’s the way it should be played, ”Cruz mentioned. “It was a great victory. I think it was one of the best, because of the way we came back after being down for six races ”.
That fly – which for Cruz and Rays manager Kevin Cash, was a triple. Not so for the scorers – the revival began in the Tampa Bay game.
“The guy was running around the bases,” said rookie Wander Franco. “Was fighting. He knows how to play baseball and there he showed it. ”
Facing Chris Sale with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Cruz hit a 2-2 slider into the center field. After taking a step towards the safety track, Verdugo reached the flyover, but missed it. The ball hit his glove and bounced into right-center field. Taylor Walls, Randy Arozarena and Franco scored.
Motter then wanted to throw into the anteroom to try to remove Cruz, but he blew it up. Initially it was scored a triple, with an error to de Motter. However, it was later corrected and a three-base error was declared for Verdugo.
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