ARLINGTON -- Jonah Heim has been one of the best catchers in the American League this season, so it’s almost no surprise that even when he fails, it works out anyway.
In the fourth inning of the Rangers' 16-6 win over the Mariners on Saturday afternoon at Globe Life Field, Seattle had runners on the corners with two outs after knocking out Texas starter Andrew Heaney earlier in the inning.
After Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez took off from first base, Heim attempted to catch him stealing -- but then appeared to think better of it with José Caballero looming at third. But Heim’s attempted pump fake slipped out of his hand and instead acted like a ground ball to shortstop. As the ball rolled through the infield, Caballero took off for home.
But Heim’s errant throw ultimately rolled right into the glove of shortstop Corey Seager, who fired a perfect throw back to Heim to catch Caballero at the plate and end the Mariners’ scoring threat.
“That was play 115B that we practiced in Spring Training,” manager Bruce Bochy joked postgame. “But yeah, that was a little bizarre. He tried to hold on to the ball and lost it. It was a heads up play by Corey. He didn’t quit on the play and made a good throw at home, and great tag by Jonah. That's a big play at that moment. We probably got a break there because Jonah was trying to hold on to the ball.”