Don't take your eye off this pitch! We know the catcher can't
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As Nat King Cole once sang, you can get your kicks on Route 66. But at Route 66 Stadium? There, the baseball gets the last laugh.
In a Double-A pitching duel between two top prospects -- Kade Anderson (MLB No. 5) and Liam Doyle (MLB No. 22) -- every pitch matters. If you need proof, look no further than Friday’s matchup between the Arkansas Travelers and Springfield Cardinals.
With Doyle on the bump in the fourth inning, a pitch was perhaps a little too on its mark as it sailed past the swinging Josh Hood. Like a dart, it sank into catcher Ryan Campos’ mask and made itself at home.
Campos attempted to evict the unwelcome visitor before removing his mask to inspect the situation further. With the catcher’s mask now resembling a cyclops costume, Campos couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. He looked to Hood, who mirrored the sentiment.
Meanwhile on the mound, Doyle pointed at the ump, insisting that the pitch be ruled a strike. In the end, it was declared a foul ball and Hood lived to see another far more generic pitch. Hood struck out, and the Cardinals rallied to a 2-1 win.
Next time someone tells you to keep your eye on the ball, proceed with caution.