Watch: Astros pitcher pulls off incredible, barehanded defensive gem
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers proved pitchers are athletes too by pulling off a defensive gem Sunday in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals.
In the bottom of the first with the bases loaded, Alcides Escobar hit a high chopper up the third base line.
McCullers moved over to make the play, grabbing it with his bare hand in front of third baseman Alex Bregman, who seemed stunned to see his pitcher even attempting to make such a play.
No glove necessary for @LMcCullers43. pic.twitter.com/uXNnfFxlev
— MLB (@MLB) June 17, 2018
In one motion and falling away as he approached the third base line, McCullers fired to first.
The Royals Mike Moustakas scored on the play to tie it at 2-2.
But Houston went on to win 7-4, McCullers gave up four runs on six this in six innings of work. Tony Sipp got the win in relief.
Carlos Correa led Houston by going 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and a home run.
Now @TeamCJCorrea has hit a home run on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day this year. His parents must be proud! 🤩👏 #Astros #CarlosCorrea #HomeRun
— Andrea 🇺🇸 (@idolwatcher1) June 17, 2018
The Astros have now won 11 straight games, including the last 10 on the road. They now hold a 1.5 game lead over Seattle in the AL West.
“I didn’t want to blow it,” McCullers said of the streak, according to the Houston Chronicle.
He had nine strikeouts in his six innings of work, with seven of those coming in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings.
That was a rather filthy fifth inning by Lance McCullers Jr. Struck out the side on 14 pitches.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) June 17, 2018
“I felt great all day,” McCullers said, according to the Chronicle.
“Punchouts don’t mean you’re locked in — guys can punch out a lot of guys on bad pitches — so I was getting a lot of weak contact, felt like I was mixing my pitches really well and hitting my spots for the most part,” he added.
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