Watch: Royals team up for one of season’s best defensive plays
The Kansas City Royals turned in one of the season’s best defensive plays on Tuesday when second baseman Omar Infante glove-flipped a grounder up the middle to shortstop Alcides Escobar, who caught the ball barehanded, spun and threw to first base for the out.
The play came in the first at-bat of the bottom of the ninth inning at Progressive Field, with the Royals leading 2–1. Cleveland Indians catcher Robert Perez bounced the grounder up the middle, sending Infante to his right behind second base. With one smooth motion, he fielded the ball and flipped it to Escobar, who caught it with his right hand as he spun around to his left to get the throw off in time and nab Perez with steps to spare.
• CORCORAN: Royals solidify status as AL’s best with Zobrist deal
The Royals (61–38) held on for the win, their fourth straight. The Indians (45–54) lost their sixth straight.
- Mike Fiammetta
