In the bottom of the first inning, Whit Merrifield walked.
That’s unusual. Merrifield’s career walk rate is 4.9%, his 4.5% mark this season even lower.
After a fielder’s choice groundout by Melky Cabrera, Eric Hosmer walked. Unlike Merrifield’s walk, a Hosmer walk is a relatively common occurrence. He has walked at a 10% clip this season. Still, Hosmer accrues hits three times as often as he walks.
But then Salvador Perez walked. Perez has been at the plate over 3000 times in his seven-year career and has walked only 3.6% of the time. That is astounding.