Projo Sox Blog

A freak play in the 6th inning left Red Sox and Mariners players walking off the field shaking their heads, and saying after the game, 'I've never seen that before.'

With one out, Seattle's Wladimir Balentien reached first on a fielding error by Boston shortstop Nick Green. Catcher Rob Johnson tried to bunt him over to second.

Justin Masterson's pitch hit Johnson on the hand as he tried to bunt. The ball rolled slowly down the third base line, and Johnson pulled up quickly, in pain from the rap to his fingers. But to the men standing in the infield, it seemed like he was stopping because he thought the ball was foul.

Varitek threw out Johnson at first, and Balentien advanced to second. But Balentien appeared to think the ball was foul, and he slowly trotted back to first base as first baseman Bailey held onto the ball.

Green, at short, waggled his glove at Bailey as Balentien came off the bag. Bailey was surprised -- he too thought the ball was foul.

"I was walking back in, and I was still wondering why he didn't run, and I was looking around, looking around. Then [Balentin] starts walking off the bag, and Green kind of gives me one of these" -- Bailey motioned like he was putting his glove up.

Bailey fired to Green at second, who tagged out Balentien between first and second.

"I don't know if I confused him, or who confused him. Green didn't say nothing to him, he just started walking back. He thought it was a foul ball. -- I thought it was too, because [Johnson] didn't run."

Balentien stood on the field in confusion, asking the umpire repeatedly whether the ball was fair or foul.

Dustin Pedroia missed what was happening completely. It seemed like he looked up, looked down, and suddenly the inning was over.

"I didn't really know what happened. I was backing up first base. He didn't run, so I was kind of confused. All of a sudden we're running off the field. It was kind of a weird play -- I don't think we'll ever see that again," Pedroia said.

 Tags  Dan Barbarisi Dustin Pedroia Jeff Bailey Nick Green

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