.jpg)
7 hours ago
2
Edmundo Sosa didn’t even make contact with the baseball, but he still delivered the game-winning moment on Monday night. The Philadelphia Phillies earned a dramatic 3-2 walk-off victory over the Boston Red Sox when Sosa’s check swing in the bottom of the 10th inning struck the glove of Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez, triggering a rarely seen catcher’s interference call that forced in the winning run.
Sosa’s swing leads to rare finish as Phillies win without a hit in 10th
“It felt like I hit a home run,” Sosa said through an interpreter after teammates mobbed him beyond first base. “We won, that’s all that matters.”
With the bases loaded and no outs, Sosa barely got his swing started when the bat clipped Narvaez’s glove. The Phillies challenged the play, and video confirmed the interference. By rule, Sosa was awarded first base and automatic runner Brandon Marsh scored from third.
According to MLB records, it was the first walk-off via catcher’s interference in more than 50 years. The last time it happened was August 1, 1971, when Willie Crawford’s swing for the Dodgers caught the glove of Reds catcher Johnny Bench.
Narvaez, who also had a passed ball earlier in the game, took the blame.
“I didn’t think I was that close to the hitter, but it happened,” he said. “It’s frustrating. That can’t happen in that moment.”
It was the sixth error of the season for Narvaez, second-most among big league catchers. His miscue in the fourth inning helped the Phillies tie the game after a passed ball moved Nick Castellanos into scoring position. Castellanos later scored on a J.T. Realmuto single.
The 10th inning started with Marsh on second base. Otto Kemp drew a walk trying to lay down a bunt. A wild pitch from Red Sox reliever Jordan Hicks moved both runners up. After an intentional walk to Max Kepler, the stage was set for Sosa.
MORE: Toronto fans urge team to lock in Bichette before free agency
Down 0-2 in the count, Sosa barely started his swing when the glove contact occurred. The ball never reached the bat. The Phillies had their third walk-off win this time without putting a ball in play.
“I’ve been in baseball 40 years,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “I’ve never seen a game end like that.”
Phillies starter Zack Wheeler added: “It’s just one of those things you say, ‘I’ve never seen that before.’ This year’s been full of those.”
MORE MLB News:
English (US)