MLB WebGems: Ten Greatest Defensive Plays of Week-6

MLB WebGems #10: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

The Kansas City Royals were down a run with the bases juiced and two outs in the 8th inning when Kelvin Gutierrez hit a slow chopper just past the right side of the mound. With the lead runner on their way home, Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve needed to field the ball efficiently to get the throw off in time to get them out and prevent the run from scoring. He did so in the most efficient way by snagging the spinning sphere with his bare hand and rifling it on the run to first, retiring Gutierrez just before he got his foot on the bag.

Not only did the slick-fielding Altuve make an impressive play, but he also hindered the Royals from squaring the game up allowing the ‘Stros to come out with the win.

MLB WebGems #9: Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets

Manny Machado, who the San Diego Padres committed $300 million to this past off-season, thought he was going to get away with a base hit to right-center field. And he would have gotten away with it too if it weren’t for the heroics of New York Mets’ speedy center fielder Brandon Nimmo, who covered 74 feet in 4.4 seconds to steal the extra-base hit away and preserve the Metropolitan’s lead with a diving grab.