Oh boy do I love this play, even though it’s so rarely attempted (at least, not on purpose) at the big league level.
Watch as Ian Happ and Rafael Ortega pull off the sort of little-league, double-steal, run-scoring, secret play every 6th grader keeps in his back pocket.
Every former little leaguer should know the drill: With runners on first and third, you send the guy from first to second base on the pitch with the goal of drawing a throw from the catcher. If the opposing team is a little too quick/accurate with it, you can get yourself in a rundown long enough to let the runner on third score.
If not, you can actually just take the double-steal, scoring a run and pushing a runner up into scoring position. The only way it goes wrong is if they don’t bite on the steal/pick you off first base, or if the defense bites, but makes two perfect throws to get the runner at home.
The Brewers took the bait, but they weren’t fast enough to get either guy! Voila! Manufactured run.
This is something the Cubs have practiced. And it isn’t even the first time these exact two base runners have pulled it off!