Harrison explains how ninth-inning play vs Braves unfolded and why Marlins would do it again
.JPG "Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) moves in to tag out Miami Marlins’ Monte Harrison, back right, at third base for a double play on a throw from first baseman Freddie Freeman as Braves relief pitcher Mark Melancon ducks in the foreground during the ninth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)")
With the game-tying run on first base and no outs in the ninth inning, Miami Marlins right fielder Matt Joyce hit a chopper high and over the pitcher’s mound. Monte Harrison, pinch-running at first base and making his way to second, noticed the situation.
The Atlanta Braves’ infield was shifted to the right side for the left-handed-hitting Joyce. Shortstop Dansby Swanson, who was running toward second to cover the base, was the only player on the left half of the infield.
Braves closer Mark Melancon’s only play was at first. Harrison’s chance to make a play of his own was at third.
“Halfway to second, I said ‘There’s nobody at third,’” Harrison recollected afterward. “I don’t think anyone on this field would catch me going to third base.’”
So as Melancon threw to Freddie Freeman for the out at first base, Harrison sped up, rounded second and made his charge. Swanson recognized the situation and was in pursuit. Freeman makes a perfect throw. Swanson makes a perfect running grab. Harrison is tagged out just before getting to third. Brian Anderson flew out to right field on the next at-bat. The Marlins lost 5-4 to start a four-game series at Truist Park.
Harrison, used lately as a late-inning pinch runner as the Marlins continue their playoff push, has been known for his aggressiveness on the basepaths. He’s a perfect 5 for 5 on stolen bases this year and scored the winning runs as a pinch runner in two games of the Marlins’ 15-game homestand.
And neither he nor his manager had qualms with how the play Monday night unfolded despite the final result.
“In my book, that’s a smart baseball play,” Harrison said. “I think Donnie would probably reiterate the exact same thing. ... With my speed and the way I play the game and how my instincts play up, we take that play nine times out of 10, and the one time it [doesn’t work] just happened to be today. It is what it is. I’ll take full responsibility for making that out, but any other day, I’m making that exact same play because I don’t think they can do that consistently enough to get me out. It takes a perfect throw from Freddie and it takes a great play from Dansby to make that catch and make that tag on a bang-bang play. I’ll take it more times than not.”
Marlins manager Don Mattingly’s thoughts?
“I loved that play,” he said. “For me, you have to make them make that play. Freddie might be the only guy who makes it quite honestly, and he had to make a throw to a guy on the run who basically had to make a blind tag. I told Monte after the game I thought it was a great play. I don’t want him down over that. I say we do it every time in that same situation and make them make that play.”
According to Statcast, Harrison was clocked with a sprint speed of 31.2 feet per second.
“In that moment, when I’m running bases or stuff like that, it’s slow motion,” Harrison said. “Everything in my mind is literally in slow motion. I see the game, but I see it at a different speed, a slower speed. For me, running, it feels like I’m running in cement. Just the way the play developed, I knew it was going to be a bang-bang play. It took a perfect throw.”
This story was originally published September 21, 2020 at 11:38 PM.
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