Rajai Davis’ poor defense gives Cubs big inning in Game 7

Rajai Davis made two poor plays during the top of the fourth inning of Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday that led to a big inning for the Chicago Cubs.

Davis, the Cleveland Indians’ center fielder, made the catch on a fly ball to shallow center for the second out of the top of the fourth. However, he hesitated on the throw home, allowing Kris Bryant to score on a tag-up. Davis’ throw was also too high and allowed Bryant to get under the tag at home. Additionally, since he threw all the way home on the play, a heads-up Ben Zobrist advanced to second.

The next batter was Willson Contreras, who doubled off the wall to center, driving in Zobrist to make it 3-1 Cubs.

Replays showed that not only was Davis playing shallow, but his first step was also in, so he got a bad jump on the ball and was unable to make a play on it.

The play likely would have been a tough one to make, but the bad first step by Davis made it impossible for him to have a chance at making a run-saving catch.

You can’t help but wonder if the Indians’ mistake in the outfield in Game 6 played a role in Davis’ hesitation on the Addison Russell sac fly. Aware of the Indians allowing a ball to drop between players in Game 6, Davis may have been too concerned with figuring out whether he or left fielder Coco Crisp would take the ball, that he forgot he needed to get a throw in.