Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Wednesday 21 august 2019

Home run robbers

Continued from Page 18 seven scoreless innings in a
5-2 win.
“It happens so rarely you’re Minor, who could be seen
in awe,” Archer said. “It’s saying, “Oh my God” af-
an awesome feeling. They ter the catch, decided
have the defensive runs DeShields deserved a treat
saved calculation, but for helping him keep a zero
when you actually see a on the board.
run taken away it feels so His loot? An electric scoot-
good.” er. Ostensibly to help save
Kiermaier recalled the DeShields’ legs for more
team meeting where he such catches.
received the painting and While Kiermaier and
shared where he has it dis- DeShields are the leaders
played. in the clubhouse for home
“It’s hanging up on my wall run robbery rewards, plenty
right now and I look at it all of other outfielders have re-
the time,” he said. “It’s such ceived gifts for their thiev-
a great gesture, and he did ery.
that all on his own.” Seattle’s Keon Broxton has
Everyone has seen an out- a knack for making such
fielder receive a tip of the plays, often late in games. In this July 4, 2018, file photo, Milwaukee Brewers’ Keon Broxton makes a leaping catch at the
cap or a jubilant fist bump The rangy center fielder has wall on a ball hit by Minnesota Twins’ Brian Dozier during the ninth inning of a baseball game in
from a pitcher after a home three home run robberies in Milwaukee.
run robbery. the ninth inning or later in Associated Press
This is a story about what his career, with two of those “When your pitcher is super en a present for a robbery. tributing during times when
happens after they leave coming with Corey Knebel excited about it and happy “But now that you men- things aren’t going so well
the field. It’s a look at home pitching when Broxton was that you did that for him, I tion something, it looks like I at the plate.
run robbers, the pitchers with the Brewers. take pride in that just for need to go to the store,” he “It’s something very unique
who love them and the There was one on and two that simple fact,” he said. said, smiling. that everybody can’t do,”
swag these elite defenders out in the ninth inning of a Of course, he appreciates Brewers’ center fielder he said. “I think it takes a
collect after making high- 2017 game with Milwau- the spoils that have come Lorenzo Cain recalled a special talent to do it.”
light-reel grabs. kee up 6-5 over the Cardi- with those grabs, too. robbery he committed in While Archer set the bar
The artwork isn’t the only nals when Broxton reached That Fourth of July catch April against the Mets at with personalized artwork
surprise Kiermaier, a two- over the wall in front of a netted Broxton a gift card Citi Field. Slugger Todd Fra- for Kiermaier and Minor sent
time Gold Glove winner, 400-foot sign to rob Ran- to Nordstrom and Knebel zier sent a ball from Chase DeShields zipping around
has received for amazing dal Grichuk of what would has also gotten him a cou- Anderson to straightaway on a scooter, not all the
grabs. He’s been gifted have been a go-ahead ple of other gift cards and center field for what looked home run robbery booty is
with whiskey, a case of blast and give the Brewers treated him to dinner for his like a sure home run. In- quite so fancy.
beer and even his favorite the win. dazzling defense. stead, Cain tracked it, When Cleveland’s Greg Al-
sweets after helping out a The second one he robbed Houston starter Gerrit Cole jumped and reached high len snagged a ball hit by
pitcher with his defense. for Knebel came on July 4, has played with more than above the wall to make Houston’s Alex Bregman
“You see like quarterbacks, 2018. He leaped, stretched his fair share of home run the catch . Cain smiled just before it would have
they’re taking their linemen his entire body against the robbers. He has an out- broadly as he came down sailed into the seats in right
out because their linemen wall and reached at least a field with Jake Marisnick, with it before shaking his fin- field at Minute Maid Park
are the guys that are pro- foot over it to corral a soar- George Springer and Josh ger as if to say, “Not on my last season, Mike Clevinger
tecting them,” Kiermaier ing shot by Minnesota’s Bri- Reddick with the Astros and watch.” rewarded him by paying
said. “Baseball has its ways an Dozier in the ninth inning played with Starling Marte “He gave me a gift card for a few beers after the
of doing that as well.” of a 3-2 win. and Andrew McCutchen in to a restaurant in Milwau- game.
Speedy Texas Rangers cen- “We’re out there to catch Pittsburgh. kee,” Cain said. “I’ve got- And years ago when Red-
ter fielder Delino DeShields the uncatchable,” Broxton He’ll always be grateful to ten a few treats. I told him dick played for Oakland,
has robbed a few homers said. “The routine plays, Marte for keeping brother- he doesn’t have to do that, Jesse Chavez gave him a
in his five seasons in the anybody can catch them in-law Brandon Crawford I was just trying to make a carton of cigarettes when
majors. One of the most but the uncatchable balls, from going yard off him with play. But it’s always nice he robbed a homer for him.
memorable came when those are the ones we get a nifty robbery he made by when a pitcher under- Still, those gifts are better
he climbed the center field paid for.” reaching into the stands in stands that it’s not easy than never getting one at
wall at Globe Life Park to To Broxton, there’s no bet- left field in 2015. out there making a play for all. Angels outfielder Justin
deny San Diego’s Hunter ter feeling than robbing a Despite being helped by him.” Upton, who has eight home
Renfroe a two-run shot home run and he delights such catches on several These are the kinds of plays run robberies since 2015,
last season. The robbery in the pitcher’s reaction af- occasions, Cole sheepishly that give Cain a boost and was shocked to learn of this
helped Mike Minor pitch terward. noted that he’s never giv- help him feel like he’s con- phenomenon.q