The baseball exited Alex Wood’s left hand at 92 mph, destined for collision with the barrel of Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez’s bat in the sixth inning of a 4-0 Dodgers victory. Upon impact the velocity jumped to 107 mph, a howler bound for the outfield. There was little time for rookie first baseman Cody Bellinger to react. Instinct guided him.
Bellinger bent to snatch the baseball out of the air. Then he stepped on the bag to conclude the double play. The combination of good fortune, studious positioning and supple hands allowed Wood to exit with a lead, and for the Dodgers to capture control of this four-game series.