Victor Robles Made Friends With a Praying Mantis That Landed on His Hat
It was actually praying for some Phillies runs
Victor Robles had a companion patrolling center field with him during the ninth inning of Monday’s Nationals–Phillies game.
Robles was sitting in the dugout in the bottom of the eighth when a praying mantis took up residence on top of his hat and stayed there even after Robles jogged out to take his place in center for the ninth.
He might have been unaware of the bug’s presence at first but as the inning wore on, Robles began interacting with his new buddy. After Luke Williams struck out, Robles signaled to his fellow outfielders, and then to the mantis, that there was one away.
The mantis was not good luck, though. Washington led 3–2 heading into the ninth and allowed the Phillies to score five runs on its way to a 7–5 loss. But even with all that action over the course of a long inning, the mantis never left its perch on top of Robles. When he jogged back to the dugout after the third out, it was still there.
Who can blame Robles for wanting to make a new friend? He must be a little lonely after the Nats traded away so many of his teammates at the deadline.
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