The Bad – A. J. Pierzynski
It is difficult to call a game where a player ends up going 1-4 with an RBI a bad game, even with two strikeouts, but that is the case with Atlanta Braves catcher A.J. Pierzynski, whose two miscues may have cost the Braves the game.
The first mistake came on his RBI base hit. With runners on first and second and one out, Pierzynski singled to center. Nick Markakis scored, and it made sense to think that center fielder Michael Taylor would throw to third. Instead, Taylor threw to second, where Pierzynski was attempting to advance on the anticipated throw, being gunned down with ease. This was the second baserunner that Taylor had erased at second in the inning, shutting down a potential big inning for the Braves.
The second gaffe came in the seventh. With two out and a runner on second, Pierzynski attempted to call time before Bud Norris‘ 2-1 pitch. Time was not granted, and Wilson Ramos hit an infield single to short. With Ryan Zimmerman heading home, Freddie Freeman threw to the plate, a throw that Pierzynski just appeared to miss. Freeman was charged with an error, and the Nationals ended up scoring three times in the inning to take a 3-2 victory.
A.J. Pierzynski had two bad moments for the Atlanta Braves, and they may well have been enough to cost them the game. Yet, that was not the worst moment around baseball last night.
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