ST. LOUIS, MO – JULY 20: Genesis Cabrera #92 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium on July 20, 2021 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
In a play that will quickly become a meme, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Genesis Cabrera played dead to avoid getting in the way of his catcher’s throw to second base.
St. Louis Cardinals reliever Genesis Cabrera made sure he was well and truly out of the way for catcher Andrew Knizer to throw to second.
When Knizer dropped a low pitch into the dirt, Cabrera immediately laid down in the grass to give him a clear view at tossing out an Atlanta Braves baserunner. The plan worked as Knizer delivered the ball perfectly in time and place for Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong to tag Joc Pederson, a recent addition to the Braves.
Genesis Cabrera lays down to avoid catcher’s throw
There’s no doubt that Cabrera’s playful reaction to the situation will make a great meme. The pitcher completely committed to playing dead, even going full extension while laying on the ground. The only flaw in his acting performance was his undying need to see the outcome of the play.
Considering the whole sequence started off with an unideal pitch into the dirt, it all worked out well for the Cards. A win tonight would put St. Louis back at .500 on the season.