deceiving maneuver by Manny Machado fails, resulting in Padres conceding a run during their victory over Red Sox, as captured on camera
The San Diego Padres suffered a setback in their pursuit of the National League West lead as a balk during a hidden ball trick attempt cost them a potential out against the Boston Red Sox.
In the third inning of the game, star player Manny Machado attempted the deceptive play, feigning a throw to a teammate while secretly holding onto the ball. However, pitcher Wandy Peralta's standing on the rubber without the ball and appearing ready to pitch was considered a "feints a pitch" according to rule 6.02(a)(9).
This rule prevents pitchers from gaining an unfair advantage by pretending to pitch while the ball is hidden by another defensive player. The balk call allowed Jarren Duran to score a run, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.
The hidden ball trick is a strategy where a fielder pretends to throw the ball to a teammate while secretly holding onto it, attempting to catch a runner off guard and tag them out. The last successful hidden ball trick in baseball was executed by former Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 10, 2013.
Manager Mike Shildt admitted responsibility for not preparing for this specific play during spring training. The Padres are currently three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Despite the setback, the Padres managed to fight back. In the tenth inning, Ramón Laureano delivered a walk-off single, securing a 5-4 victory for the home team.
The balk rule in baseball states that a pitcher cannot deceive the runner by feinting a throw without actually throwing the ball. The rule is consistent across Major League Baseball and many other levels of play, though some lower levels have additional restrictions on proximity to the pitching rubber during the trick.
After the game, the Padres' record stood at 65-52. Manny Machado's intelligence was highlighted in the play, as he attempted the hidden ball trick despite not having specifically practiced it. The Padres will look to bounce back in their next game.
- The balk rule in MLB was implemented during the third inning of the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox game, as a balk was called against Wandy Peralta due to him feinting a pitch, causing Manny Machado's hidden ball trick attempt to fail.
- The hidden ball trick is a well-known strategy in baseball, particularly used by fielders to catch runners off guard, but it backfired on the Padres when the balk call allowed Jarren Duran to score, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.
- Despite the setback and losing their chance for a potential out, the Padres showed resilience, with Ramón Laureano delivering a walk-off single in the tenth inning, securing a 5-4 victory for the home team.
- The Padres are currently three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, and their next game will be a crucial opportunity for them to bounce back from this setback and maintain their pursuit of the division lead.
