by Tim Evearitt
posted July 2, 2009
One of the most exciting plays in baseball is a close play at home when the runner and the ball arrive at the same time. Timing is crucial.
In the third inning Thursday with one out, pitcher Jair Jurrjens and Gregor Blanco hit back-to-back singles off Cole Hamels. The next batter, hot-hiting Martin Prado, doubled down the left field line. Jurrjens scored easily from second while the speedy Blanco rounded third and raced home.
Catcher Paul Bako (a former Chattanooga Lookout, 1996) set up for the play and readied to block the plate.
As Blanco came on, Jurrjens signaled him to "get down" while the on-deck hitter, Chipper Jones, looked on.
Instead of sliding, Blanco went around Bako's outstretched foot and as the ball arrived late, Blanco reached in to touch the plate with Atlanta's second run of the inning.
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