When the Indians’ Erik Gonzalez and Jason Kipnis singled and walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning against the Oakland A’s earlier today, no one thought anything of it. After all, plenty of innings start off that way all the time. But – and I’m fairly confident in this – very few innings have ever looked like the rest of the 6th.
Check it out:
After the single and the walk, Francisco Lindor tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error left everybody safe and the bases loaded. After that a bases loaded walk drove in the first run and then the most annoying bloop single into shallow left field scored another.Â
And then things got weirder.
A grounder to the second baseman brought the throw to the plate. And although the A’s were able to get the force at home, Bradley Zimmer was ultimately safe at first (avoiding the double play). In the confusion, however, Carlos Santana sprinted home and was called out … until an umpire review overturned that call.
And then things got weirder.
The sprinklers in the outfield were accidentally turned on – sort of like a metaphorical rain cloud hovering over the Oakland A’s defense exclusively.
Following the water show, Josh Phegley allowed a passed ball, advancing Zimmer to second, and that preceded another fielding error at third by Ryon Healy, allowing Jose Ramirez to score.
By the time things cleared up – and reliever John Axford got the final out – the Indians were leading 5-0. What a ridiculous series of events.