In the top of the sixth, in a game that means absolutely little in the grand scheme of things, something rather wonderful happened.
Busted Coverage’s Joe Kinsey spotted just the latest fine play during a spring that has already featured near inside-the-park heroics and various opportunities to test out the newfangled instant replay rule.
In Thursday’s spring training game between the Reds and Dodgers, Cincinnati’s Ramon Santiago lays down a dandy of a bunt in between first base and the mound.
Justin Turner, a player who has enjoyed stints with the Orioles and Mets, pounces on the ball and gracefully flips it into the air for his pitching teammate to handle the rest.
Red Patterson, a 26-year-old with a fantastic name shows all that hard work doing pitcher’s fielding practice (PFPs) has really paid off.
Patterson grabs the ball and sprints on to first, just beating Santiago to the bag.
As Kinsey notes, you also get the added benefit of listening to the call from Marty Brennaman, a play-by-play star who has been on the microphone for the Reds since 1974.
The real treat is hearing this broadcasting legend break down the play with near anonymous players, “Here’s a bunt that he takes with him, fielded by the first baseman, flipping on to the pitcher. Pretty good act right there, and it works defensively for Los Angeles.”
The only thing missing would be Brennaman calling the players, “Players” or “Those guys.”
Turner is batting .333 in 30 plate appearances this spring, and Patterson was recently reassigned to minor-league camp.
With Turner playing second normally, chances are great we just saw the last of this particular act of wizardry from the Turner/Patterson tandem.
However, they showed they make quite the duo on one beautiful day in March.
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