Counting to four really isn't that hard, but it is occasionally an issue in Major League Baseball.
Earlier this season, Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto worked a three-ball walk. On Monday night, Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez had to be more patient than usual to draw a base on balls.
Hernandez was the first batter New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom faced on the night. There was a bit of confusion on the 1-1 pitch, when Hernandez hit a weak grounder up the first-base line. Once the play was over, the umpires ruled that the ball hit the batter in the box, making it a foul ball.
At that point, there had already been one ball thrown in the at-bat. Keep that in mind.
DeGrom and Hernandez would proceed with their eight-pitch battle. The Mets right-hander threw a ball—ball four—on the seventh pitch, which should have led to Hernandez jogging down to first. However, the batter never moved, and nobody noticed four balls had been thrown.
The next pitch wound up being a ball as well, so Hernandez did end up drawing a walk, even if it took five pitches out of the strike zone.
Hernandez was the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning. Everyone was still settling in, so when there was some confusion about a foul ball, there may have been a lapse in concentration.
Hernandez came around to score on a three-run homer by Ryan Howard. The Philadelphia second baseman later drew a four-ball walk in the bottom of the third inning.
Despite scoring seven runs in the first three innings, the Phillies were not able to walk away with the win. The Mets powered their way to a 16-7 victory.
[MLB.com]
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