Watch: Rangers SS Elvis Andrus pulls off straight steal of home vs. Padres
Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus managed a rare feat on Tuesday night, pulling off a straight steal of home in Texas’s game against the Padres.
The swipe came in the top of the seventh inning after Andrus reached base via a bases-loaded single off Padres reliever Shawn Kelley, reaching third thanks to an error on the play by San Diego catcher Derek Norris. Norris then exited the game due to injury and Kevin Quackenbush relieved Kelley, giving Andrus the opportunity to take advantage of a battery that had just come off the bench.
With no one holding him on at third, as Quackenbush came to a set position with a 1–2 count against Will Venable, Andrus suddenly took off, with the Padres reliever not seeing what had happened until Andrus was past the halfway point between third and home. Finally reacting, Quackenbush’s throw pulled catcher Austin Hedges to the right of the plate. Andrus slid in easily to complete the straight steal.
Andrus has a solid history of stealing home. He also pulled off the feat in an Aug. 19, 2013 game against the Astros (though that came on a double steal, as he was allowed to score because Houston first tried to nab Adrian Beltre stealing second base):
Andrus did the same thing in Game 2 of the 2010 ALCS against the Yankees:
The swipe of home Tuesday came the same night that the Rockies pulled off another little-seen accomplishment, turning a triple play against the Diamondbacks.
After his bases-loaded single broke a 4–4 tie against the Padres, Andrus’s steal gave the Rangers an 8–4 lead and they would go on to win 8–6. Texas improves to 69–62 and in possession of the AL’s second wild card.
- Ben Estes
