General manager Matt Arnold on the Brewers playoff history, MVPs and celebrations
Milwaukee Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold on the Brewers playoff history, MVPs and celebrations. Arnold was interviewed after the Brewers beat the Cubs, 3-1, to advance to the NLCS
Sal Frelick has had a quiet postseason so far at the plate.
But it was the play he started in center field in the fourth inning of Game 1 of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on Monday night, Oct. 13, that might well prove to be the highlight of baseball’s entire fall tournament before all is said and done.
With the bases loaded for the Los Angeles Dodgers and one out, Max Muncy lifted a long fly ball to center off Quinn Priester that appeared as though it would carry just over the wall for a grand slam that would break a scoreless tie with the Milwaukee Brewers.
But Frelick – starting in center rather than in his usual spot in right – made a leap and caught the ball momentarily before it popped out as his glove and then hit the top of the wall.
He then caught the ball on the carom and quickly fired a throw to cutoff man Joey Ortiz, who then turned and made a pinpoint throw to William Contreras to get a sliding Teoscar Hernández at the plate for a force out.
Will Smith, who was on second on the play, retreated back to the base thinking the ball was caught. And that allowed Contreras to then trot to third and touch the base to complete a totally improbable 8-6-2 double play.
There was much confusion in the aftermath, and players from both teams lingered on the field while all six umpires conferred after the Dodgers challenged.
But both out calls were upheld following a replay review, and the crowd went wild in celebration after the announcement was made.
Adding to the craziness?
The play goes down as a grounded into double play in the box score because there were force plays at two different bases, according to official scorer Tim O’Driscoll, even with it beginning 404 feet out.