The shortstop moving to the left, receiving a ground ball, and throwing a spinning throw to first base in an attempt to secure a stunning out is one of baseball’s most visually appealing plays. Edmundo Sosa of the St. Louis Cardinals attempted such a play on Monday evening, but things went horribly wrong, and his toss to first base was well wide of the bag. Sosa’s throw hit first base umpire Junior Valentine square in the face, and he was obviously embarrassed by the outcome.
Fortunately, the errant throw seemingly did not as much as damage as it could have, with the umpire able to stay on the field. However, Valentine had an immediate abrasion on the side of his face and, in short, he likely endured some pain, at least in the short term.
In terms of baseball, Sosa’s misfortune had no negative consequences for the Cardinals. Adam Wainwright, a veteran right-hander, handled the glitch in stride, quickly creating three outs, including a double play to eliminate the leadoff runner in the second inning. Nonetheless, the final outcome of this particular play is unlikely to be remembered, and it is an example of a play that even the most ardent baseball fan rarely sees.
