Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert probably has some Gold Glove Awards coming his way for (usual) excellence in center field, but he had a rough play on Saturday night that will be on blooper reels for years to come.
With two outs in the bottom of the third and a runner on first, the Los Angeles Angels’ Anthony Rendon hit a routine flyball to shallow center field. Well, it *should’ve* been a routine flyball.
Instead, the ball bounced off the head of Robert, and caromed into right field. With the Angels’ David Fletcher trying to score, White Sox right fielder Adam Eaton picked up the ball and threw home, only to airmail catcher Zack Collins. Fletcher scored to tie the game 1-1, and Rendon ended up at second base after the throwing error.
Luis Robert will never live this one down pic.twitter.com/XeTEG1jXLE
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) April 4, 2021
Additionally, Rendon would score on the ensuing play, an RBI single from Jared Walsh. So, two Angels runs happened that wouldn’t have happened if Robert caught an easy flyball.
That ended up being crucial, because the Angels won by two runs.
The Angels trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, but tied the game up on a Jared Walsh triple, before Justin Upton hit a two-run dinger that would serve as the game-winner in a 5-3 victory.
JUSTIN. UPTON. #Angels lead it. pic.twitter.com/VBkuIC6TGE
— Brent Maguire (@bmags94) April 4, 2021
Much better days are ahead for Robert and the White Sox, but that’s a frustrating loss.
It also led to more jokes about the White Sox and their over-the-top tribute to outfielder Eloy Jiménez.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.