Cincinnati Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft put together a strong outing on Friday, and he was feeling so good he decided to mock one of his opponents.
Ashcraft had one of his best starts of the season as he went 6.2 innings allowing just one run on three hits and two walks to the San Diego Padres. In the sixth inning, Ashcraft struck out Juan Soto and then mocked the Padres outfielder by doing a shuffle.
Ashcraft's shuffle isn't as good pic.twitter.com/3HL2rvSrj1
— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) June 30, 2023
That’s the same shuffle Soto has been known to do in the batter’s box when taking a pitch.
Soto was 1-for-3 against Ashcraft in the game.
After the game, Ashcraft explained why he mocked Soto.
“He does it all the time, why can’t we do it back at him? A taste of his own medicine,” Ashcraft said via FOX 19 in Cincinnati’s Joe Danneman.
Graham Ashcraft on his shuffle after striking out Juan Soto: “He does it all the time, why can’t we do it back at him? A taste of his own medicine.”
— Joe Danneman (@FOX19Joe) July 1, 2023
Ashcraft left in the seventh with the game tied at one. His Reds eventually won the game 7-5 in 11 innings.
Shuffling on Soto is a bold move for a pitcher with a 6.66 season ERA, but Ashcraft isn’t letting that hold him back.
