Billy Hamilton narrowly avoided a pickoff, then stole second and scored anyway
By
Andrew Mearns
As the preeminent basestealer in the game right now, Billy Hamilton is a constant menace on the basepaths. He entered Wednesday night's action against the Cubs with 19 stolen bases, eight more than anyone else in 2017 already. The Cubs defeated the Reds, 7-5, but they struggled to shut Hamilton down when he led off the game with a single. It didn't even matter that they caught him. Two pitches after Hamilton singled, Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks fired to first base. Hamilton was caught running too early, and he was stuck halfway between first and second. Ben Zobrist waited a little too long to throw back to Anthony Rizzo at first base, though, and Hamilton quickly scampered back under the tag. Even he acknowledged that it was a close call.
Flirting with disaster might scare off some players, but not Hamilton. He promptly ran for second anyway, and made it in easily under catcher Miguel Montero's throw for his 20th stolen base of the young season. So he was in perfect position to score on Zack Cozart's single through the right side, putting the Reds up, 1-0. For that kind of thievery, we can only clap along with Hamilton in tribute.
