Another dazzling catch by Tauchman in LA

June 30th, 2021

LOS ANGELES -- Giants outfielder is compiling quite the highlight reel of impressive catches against the Dodgers this year.

Tauchman, who earned a start in right field after Mike Yastrzemski was held out of the lineup with a right leg contusion, flashed his glove by making a terrific running catch to rob Los Angeles right-hander Walker Buehler of extra bases in the second inning of Tuesday night’s 3-1 loss in the series finale at Dodger Stadium.

Buehler put a charge into a 3-2 fastball from Kevin Gausman, but Tauchman sprinted back to make a tumbling grab at the warning track. Tauchman hit the wall hard and was initially slow to get up, but he stayed in the game after being checked on by head athletic trainer Dave Groeschner and manager Gabe Kapler.

"It was awesome," said left fielder Alex Dickerson. "Especially with a pitcher hitting, sometimes you can get a little checked out there, kind of expecting the ball not to get hit as hard as it was. He puts everything on the line when he’s out there. He’s made some unbelievable plays, some that I will never make in my entire life, so it’s been fun to watch. Hopefully he’s going to be alright."

Tauchman tweaked his right knee on the play and departed the game two innings later, replaced in right fieid by LaMonte Wade Jr. in the bottom of the fourth. He suffered a bruise, and a possible sprain, and will undergo an MRI on Wednesday.

Tauchman also arguably made the catch of the year at Dodger Stadium on May 28, when he robbed Albert Pujols of a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to force extra innings and set the stage for the Giants’ eventual 8-5 win in 10 innings. The 30-year-old has endured a slow start at the plate, but he’s been among the top 10 defenders in the National League, according to the SABR Defensive Index rankings that were released earlier this month.