It’s not a position a major league catcher finds himself in often, but when Alex Avila had a chance to record an unassisted out on a runner trying to steal third, he knew exactly what to do.
It was the ninth inning of Friday night’s series opener in Philadelphia, and the Nationals were clinging to a 2-1 lead.
Rhys Hoskins led off the inning against Daniel Hudson with a double off the right field wall, and Travis Jankowski came on as a pinch runner.
But on a 2-2 pitch to the next batter, J.T. Realmuto, Avila momentarily dropped the ball after taking in an outside ball in the dirt, and Jankowski thought he had a chance.