Josh Rojas’ incredible inning-ending double play saves D-backs in 7th
Sep 8, 2020, 10:00 PM | Updated: 11:44 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Josh Rojas is unable to make a play on a ground ball hit by Pavin Smith during an intrasquad baseball game at Chase Field Monday, July 6, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Diamondbacks were reeling quickly in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night, having given up four innings.
That put the scoreline at 6-6, and the Dodgers weren’t done yet, with runners on first and third with one out.
Corey Seager was up for Los Angeles, and hit a line drive straight up the middle.
D-backs shortstop Josh Rojas, making his first start there of his career, fielded the ball with a diving effort and threw to first.
That is the extremely simple version of explaining the play, as everyone afterward wasn’t exactly sure what happened. Even Rojas didn’t seem sure as he went towards the dugout.
JOSH ROJAS IS CAT-LIKE!! @Dbacks | #RattleOn pic.twitter.com/6a4rs8qHh8
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) September 9, 2020
Did Rojas catch the ball and double up Dodgers runner Mookie Betts at first? Was Seager just out at first? Or did Rojas’ right leg hanging out there actually tag the bag for a traditional double play?
On replay, it’s clear that Rojas somehow had the presence of mind to indeed get his right foot on second base to force out Betts as he was fielding the ball, with Seager obviously now out at first for the inning-ending double play.
“It all happened kind of fast,” Rojas said after the game.
“It was kind of just an instinct play.”
It’s an even more incredible play by Rojas when you consider that even if that diving effort keeps the ball in the infield and records one out with Betts safe at second, the runner on third still scores.
That managed to keep it six all heading into the bottom-half of the inning, and that tie took the game to extras, where the D-backs lost 10-9 in 10 innings.
