SEATTLE — Max Kepler put a literal “flip” in “bat flip” and a literal “trip” in “trip around the bases.” Fortunately for each the Twins and their proper fielder, he may chortle about it afterwards.
After Kepler roped a line drive into the right-field nook throughout the fourth inning of the Twins’ 7-6 loss to the Mariners on Monday, he dropped the bat, as any hitter does — but it surely turned out he didn’t fairly fling it far sufficient away. It fell at Kepler’s toes, the place his legs obtained tousled within the lumber, leading to an enormous faceplant just a few steps out of the field.
Kepler recovered in time to get to his toes, and he noticed that Seattle proper fielder Jarred Kelenic was nonetheless far sufficient from the ball that he may make the flip round first base and slide into second base for a double.
He did hesitate a bit as he rounded first, although, as a result of he heard somebody calling from behind him that he may nonetheless make it to second — however he couldn’t inform if it was buddy (first-base coach Hank Conger) or foe (Seattle first baseman Ty France).
“I think it was France,” Kepler mentioned. “He could have been setting me up, too. But I went for it.”
And clearly, he discovered it extra humorous than he did embarrassing, as a result of he couldn’t conceal the smile that broke out throughout his face as he regarded up and towards his teammates within the dugout. Luckily for Kepler, they gave the impression to be extra targeted on celebrating the leadoff double than teasing him for the … acrobatic route he took to second base.
There was no hiding for Kepler when the T-Mobile Park crowd noticed the replay on the video board and burst out in laughter — however, hey, he was already on second base at that time, and magnificence factors don’t rely further in baseball.
And he obtained a kick out of the way it reminded him of a equally enjoyable second in Twins historical past.
“It reminded me of some vintage Ben Revere tumbling on that triple,” Kepler mentioned, a smile creeping throughout his face.
Content Source: www.mlb.com