Walk off triple?
GreenSneakers
Posts: 908 ✭✭✭✭
I saw this new card, and it really got me thinking ...
Why should there ever be a walk off triple with two outs?? Presumably if you’re rounding second, and decide to head to third, the winning run is already heading home. There is only downside that you get thrown out at third before the run scores. Right?
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Comments
Possibly a really slow runner at first and the hustling Clemente possessed 3rd base before the slow runner crossed the plate....or a runner on first not realizing there were 2 outs went half way on the (possible) fly ball and Clemente was right on his tail when the ball got past the outfielder.
Greensneakers you are right. A heads-up runner would have no reason to try for third. In the case of a walk off triple I would think the official scorer used his discretion to rule the hit a triple.
I agree with nam812.
With a slow runner at first and someone like Clemente or Rickey Henderson at the plate, you could easily see a walk-off triple.
The batter could also be trying a bit of strategy. Knowing the runner at first is slow, he could purposely continue to third, just to give the defense something more to think about, i.e., would it be easier to try for the guy going to third, or for the runner going home; that split second of thought/doubt could make the difference in the runner scoring or not.
Steve
If the runner scores before the hitter is tagged out, the run should count.
Yes, but if no one gets tagged out on the play, the result for the batter is the last base possessed before the runner crosses the plate.
From baseball-reference.com:
Roberto Clemente 1971 Timeline
__ May 17 __ Shuts Down Expos and Fair Weather Fans
“Roberto Clemente knocked a two-run triple off the center-field fence with two out in the ninth inning to give the Pirates a 6-5 victory over Montreal after the Expos had taken a 5-0 lead... Clemente, retired twice in crucial situations early in the game (*), belted Mike Marshall’s 1-1 pitch high off the wall near the 410-foot mark." [3]
Also, according to newspapers on May 18th, Gene Alley led off the ninth inning with a single, then after the next batter made an out, Dave Cash beat out a bouncer to third. Vic Davalillo then flew out, bringing up Clemente. Clemente then tripled, scoring Alley from 2nd and Cash from 1st.
Steve