Some plays are so much fun, they beg to be watched again and again.
The Atlanta Braves turned one of those plays Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins. It’s the type of play you might see in one of those “Strangest plays” videos years from now.
In the fifth inning, Twins outfielder Max Kepler hit a sharp grounder up the middle. Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies ranged to his right, dove and stopped the ball.
While still sliding along the ground, Albies flipped the ball to shortstop Orlando Arcia, who smoked the ball to first to nip Kepler.
So many things to marvel at here. Albies made a good play just to stop the ball, then had the presence of mind to flip it to Arcia while he was still sliding. And he made a perfect toss.
For his part, Arcia anticipated he might get the ball, positioned himself perfectly, turned and fired a strike to first.
Baseball fans who appreciate a fantastic play liked this one. A lot.
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.