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Tuesday’s Hot Clicks: D-Backs Let Two Runs Score By Disrespecting Caleb Smith’s Wheels

The Diamondbacks briefly forgot how to play baseball.

Dan Gartland

Mark Brown/Getty Images

The Diamondbacks briefly forgot how to play baseball

The surging Marlins (winners of five of their last six) notched another victory on Monday night, 11–6 over the Diamondbacks. The key was a six-run second inning, which broke open thanks to some truly horrendous defense by Arizona. 

Miami pitcher Caleb Smith laid down a routine sacrifice bunt with runners on the corners and one out, and it somehow turned into two runs for the Marlins. 

The fatal error for the Diamondbacks was pitcher Merrill Kelly chasing Curtis Granderson back to third base, leaving him little time to get the sure out at first. Kelly must have thought he had more time to get Smith, but instead was forced to rush the throw. 

Credit to Smith not only for getting down the line, but then spotting that no one was covering second base. First baseman Christian Walker (because there’s no way the pitcher is going to try to advance, right?) lazily tracked down Kelly’s errant throw. Smith seized the opportunity to make a mad dash for second. Outfielder Tim LoCastro covered second and, even though he used to be a second baseman, couldn’t handle Walker’s throw and make the tag, allowing Smith to go all the way to third. 

Pitchers are athletes, too. They’re just not hitters. 

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Email dan.gartland@simail.com with any feedback or follow me on Twitter for approximately one half-decent baseball joke per week. Bookmark this page to see previous editions of Hot Clicks and find the newest edition every day. By popular request I’ve made a Spotify playlist of the music featured here. Visit our Extra Mustard page throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.

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Dan Gartland
DAN GARTLAND

Dan Gartland is the writer and editor of Sports Illustrated’s flagship daily newsletter, SI:AM, covering everything an educated sports fan needs to know. He joined the SI staff in 2014, having previously been published on Deadspin and Slate. Gartland, a graduate of Fordham University, is a former Sports Jeopardy! champion (Season 1, Episode 5).

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