- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Papi tops 2 lists, but Sox drop the ball
- Updated: August 25, 2016
ST. PETERSBURG — Luke Maile saw reliever Heath Hembree drop the ball at first base in the 11th inning and started his sprint home. And the Rays’ backup catcher slid in safely as Sandy Leon couldn’t handle the throw at the plate to give Tampa Bay a 4-3, walk-off win over the Red Sox on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. The Red Sox remain in a tie for first place in the American League East since the Blue Jays lost to the Angels on Wednesday.
“I was just busting my butt trying to get to the bag,” Hembree said. “Was just running a little bit too fast. Knew the ball was coming and trying to find the bag, it was just, I just dropped it. … It’s a play I should make 10 out of 10 times.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash labeled the ending a “unique play.”
“I didn’t envision Luke Maile taking an extra 90 feet on a ball that didn’t get out of the infield, but I’m glad he did,” Cash said.
Maile entered the game in extra innings and doubled with two outs in the 11th in his only at-bat. He was at second base when Kevin Kiermaier hit a dribbler to first base, where Travis Shaw fielded the ball before Hembree dropped his toss while covering the bag.
“That’s kind of a routine 3-to-1 play,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Unfortunately it comes at a time when there’s two outs and a guy is on the move. It ends up being the difference in this one. Yeah, that’s a routine play.”
Evan Longoria’s game-tying home run in the eighth inning off Rick Porcello was his 30th homer of the year. It was also his franchise-leading fourth 30th-homer season, as he passed Carlos Pena, who had three.
Matt Andriese settled down for the Rays after giving up a two-run homer to David Ortiz, also recording No. 30, in the first. The right-hander finished with a quality start, allowing three runs over six innings.
Brad Miller had the other big hit for …
continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com
