SAN DIEGO -- As the ball flared toward right field, Eric Hosmer stopped in his tracks on his way to second base. Standing not far behind him, pitcher Archie Bradley watched Steven Souza Jr. charge in, and he imagines his thoughts weren’t too dissimilar to those of the San Diego Padres’ baserunner.
“His glove was up,” Bradley said, “and I’m like, ‘Oh, is this (going to be caught)?’”
It wasn’t. Souza knew it. But by making it look like there was a chance he might dive for the ball, Souza forced Hosmer to hold up, then fired a strike to second base for the force.