It happened last Wednesday, in a AAA game between Albuquerque and Reno. Bottom of the ninth. Reno is down 4-3, bases loaded with one out. The batter slams one into the gap which goes to the wall.
So Reno wins 5-4, right? Actually they do, but it's not so simple.
The runner on third scores to make it 4-4. The runner on second heads home with the apparent winning run. However, one of his teammates is guilty of premature celebration. He leaves the dugout and runs into the baserunner, knocking him down before he touched the plate. The runner is called out because he received "assistance" from a teammate, although it was anything but. The runner on first touched second, as he should, but that's as far as he got.
So, it's still 4-4 with two outs? No, because... the center fielder, thinking the game was over, innocently tossed the ball over the fence to a fan. Wild throw which left the field of play. The runner who was on first, and had reached second, is awarded two bases. So he scores, and the game ends 5-4, just as it should have.
That play is about as weird as any I can remember.
So Reno wins 5-4, right? Actually they do, but it's not so simple.
The runner on third scores to make it 4-4. The runner on second heads home with the apparent winning run. However, one of his teammates is guilty of premature celebration. He leaves the dugout and runs into the baserunner, knocking him down before he touched the plate. The runner is called out because he received "assistance" from a teammate, although it was anything but. The runner on first touched second, as he should, but that's as far as he got.
So, it's still 4-4 with two outs? No, because... the center fielder, thinking the game was over, innocently tossed the ball over the fence to a fan. Wild throw which left the field of play. The runner who was on first, and had reached second, is awarded two bases. So he scores, and the game ends 5-4, just as it should have.
That play is about as weird as any I can remember.