Randy Arozarena reached base as a pinch hitter in Game 1 of the NLCS between his St. Louis Cardinals and the Washington Nationals on Friday night, but he probably should not have been given that benefit.
Nationals starter Anibal Sanchez threw a pitch inside on Arozarena, who pushed his elbow lower to try and get hit during the bottom of the sixth inning.
You be the judge: Does Randy Arozarena lean out in front of this one? #Cardinals #Nationals #NLCS pic.twitter.com/wcaKGvMvZx
— Billy Heyen (@Wheyen3) October 12, 2019
Despite Arozarena leaning in for the hit by pitch, he was given first base. He also probably had no fear about doing so because of his elbow padding.
MLB.com’s pitch tracker showed that the pitch by Sanchez was nearly a strike.
Lol the pitch that hit Arozarena was almost a strike #NLCS pic.twitter.com/CCFoSVMn4P
— Ben Ross (@BenRossTweets) October 12, 2019
A batter should not be rewarded for utilizing such a tactic, so we don’t like the decision to give him the base. Arozarena later stole second base and was stranded at third to end the inning.
