Fifth Avenue Forum

Why wouldn't it be 69

What?!?!

4. Sending Stallings in the 10th
The 10th inning started with Stallings on second base as the automatic runner and Josh Bell slicing a pinch-hit single into left field. Third-base coach Joey Cora waved around Stallings, and the slow-footed catcher collided with Contreras in front of the plate for the first out.

With backup catcher John Ryan Murphy still available, why not pinch-run Gregory Polanco for Stallings? Shelton said Polanco was available, but the wet field and hour-long delay combined with Polanco’s injury history didn’t make for ideal circumstances to use him.

So then, why send Stallings home? If he had been held at third, the Pirates would have had runners on the corners with nobody out and the top of the order coming to the plate.

“I think we give more credit to Schwarber. He made a hell of a throw,” Shelton said. “I think Joey does a hell of a job over there. He’s aggressive. He’s consistent. I think he’s one of the better third-base coaches in baseball, so no problem with that send.”

Bell moved to second on Schwarber’s throw, but he was stranded there after Adam Frazier lined out and Newman hit a comebacker to reliever Ryan Tepera.