Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Manuel Margot. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)
Right fielder Manuel Margot tried to make a splash for the Rays by stealing second, but replay ruled him out on the tag. Was he really caught?
Every moment in a tight ALDS Game 3 between the Red Sox and Rays could be the ultimate difference.
Tampa Bay was on the wrong end of one of those moments when Manuel Margot tried to steal second and got caught on the tag.
Manuel Margot was tagged out by the thinnest margin
Just how close was the play? Literal inches.
So yes, Margot was definitely out, but it doesn’t get much closer than that. He very nearly pulled off the steal. Of course, almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Incredibly, it was the first time this season Nick Pivetta successfully got a baserunner out stealing. Runners were 11-for-11 before Margot, according to Buster Olney.
The play ended the Rays’ chances of taking the lead in the 10th inning. They avoided conceding anything to the Red Sox in the bottom of the 10th though. While it was a potentially big moment, it didn’t cost them completely.
The Rays and Red Sox headed to Boston for Game 3 with the series tied at one apiece. Whoever grabs the victory will have a chance to close out the series in Game 4 on Monday.