If Mike Trout was starting to bore you with all of his home runs and homer-stealing catches, the defending AL Most Valuable Player gave you another reason to admire his athletic prowess in Friday night’s game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
In the top of the fifth inning, Trout hit an RBI single to shallow left field past a diving Brock Holt to tie the game at 3-3. He moved to second base on an Albert Pujols ground out, then attempted to steal third base. The throw from catcher Blake Swihart appeared to be good enough to nab Trout, but he made an unbelievable slide to avoid the tag from Holt. Diving head-first, Trout tucked his left arm (the arm closest to Holt) back, while reaching with his other hand for the corner of the third base bag around and behind Holt’s left foot. Trout’s momentum took him past the bag, so he deftly turned on his back, hooked his right foot on the base, and stayed on the bag to continue avoiding the tag.
Trout was initially ruled out by third base umpire John Tumpane. Trout immediately shouted to the Angels’ dugout to challenge the ruling, and so manager Mike Scioscia did. Trout was ultimately ruled safe after review, and the Angels went on to put up a nine-spot against the Red Sox in the fifth inning.
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The stolen base is Trout’s eighth of the season in 10 attempts. He entered Friday’s action batting .295/.394/.564 with 11 home runs and 22 RBI.
