Andy Pages went rogue during Wednesday’s game and paid the price.
The Los Angeles Dodgers rookie outfielder Pages was at first base representing the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers. With two outs and the Dodgers trailing 3-1, Jason Heyward tucked a base hit into center field that Leody Taveras bobbled. Lead runner Will Smith scored easily as a result, but Taveras recovered quickly and got the ball back into the infield. That led Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel to put on the stop sign for Pages.
Unfortunately, Pages ignored Ebel and blew right through the stop sign, eventually getting tossed out at home plate off a strong relay throw from second baseman Marcus Semien. That was the third and final out of the game, sealing a 3-2 loss for the Dodgers.
Here is the video (where you can clearly see Ebel holding up his hand to stop Pages as the throw from Taveras was coming into Semien).
Jason Heyward doubles but Andy Pages runs through a stop sign and gets thrown out to end the game. pic.twitter.com/CZJs4Y5Pvn
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 13, 2024
Had Pages listened to Ebel and held up at third, the Dodgers would have had No. 9 hitter Cavan Biggio, who was making his debut for the team but recorded a single earlier in the game, at the plate with two outs. After that, it would have been the top of the order with Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and then Freddie Freeman.
The 23-year-old Pages has emerged as a surprise contributor for the Dodgers this season, batting .264 with six home runs and 19 RBIs in 48 games. But Pages is not particularly fast, stealing just seven bases in ten attempts last season in the minors. Pages has also been caught stealing in two out of three of his stolen-base attempts this season for the Dodgers.
Certain speedy MLB players (such as Elly De La Cruz) have found success running through stop signs at third. Pages is not yet at that level though and found that out the hard way in making the game-ending out on Wednesday.
