Cubs second baseman Eric Sogard. (Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports)
A routine play for the San Francisco Giants almost turned into an error until the Chicago Cubs committed their own embarrassing flub.
The play-by-play from Sunday’s Giants game against the Cubs includes a simple description of the last eight in the top of the eighth inning.
“Sogard grounded out to first,” is all it says.
The reality is so much more complex and comical than those five words.
The Cubs already led 4-3 when Giants second baseman Wilmer Flores missed a dribbling line drive hit by Eric Sogard. San Francisco looked like they’d be punished for that one even though Mauricio Dubon was in the perfect position to recover the deflection and make a quick throw to first.
Yet, somehow, Sogard didn’t manage to take the base. The Cubs second baseman was called out at first because he inexplicably decided to dive over the bag rather than simply sliding in. And that was that. The inning ended.
Fans lambasted Cubs infielder Eric Sogard for his mishap against the Giants
The fact that Sogard has been vocal about not getting the COVID-19 vaccine produced a slew of jokes.
Things turned out alright for the Cubs despite the error, even though they might have felt a lot more comfortable later if they’d managed to produce something in the eighth. Kris Bryant had to make a leaping catch at the wall to prevent Dubon from tying the game with a home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth.
Chicago won 4-3 to avoid a four-game sweep. They are tied with Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central after the 1-3 series.
The Giants obviously would have preferred the sweep, but they’re sitting comfortably in first place in the NL West, leading the Padres by two games. They’ve recovered from a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers with nine wins in their last 12.