Cardinals and Dodgers Game Featured a Catcher Striking Out a Pitcher

If you want to know what "throwing in the towel" looks like in baseball terms, just look at the face of catcher Rob Johnson, who took no joy in striking out the Dodgers' Paco Rodriguez. 

Deadspin's Tom Ley spotted a moment many baseball fans may have missed Wednesday night. The score was already 13-4 in the ninth, which means Cardinals fans likely turned off their televisions at that point and Dodgers fans went searching for Yasiel Puig highlights online. 

Fortunately, we have this video to prove things really got crazy at the tail end of this lopsided affair. 

As noted, Johnson, the third-string catcher, was tasked with wrapping up a forgettable game by hitting the mound for just the second time of his career and the first this season. 

Ley also notes that both Johnson and Rodriguez are completely over the entire ordeal well before the at-bat. 

Rodriguez is a solid lefty out of the bullpen who has handled himself well this season, garnering a 2.20 ERA and .73 WHIP. Yet he has had all of one at-bat in his career, including Wednesday night's apathetic attempt. 

For Johnson, he was rather comfortable warming whatever bench he was sitting on during a game that must have felt a lot longer than the already near four-hour game time. 

So what we have is a disgruntled catcher throwing short-arm fastballs to an ineffectively batting pitcher. Somehow this video is apropos. 

The Cardinals are in the midst of a tight race for control of the NL Central, and the Dodgers remain one of the most entertaining teams these past couple of months. 

Still, there is no denying both squads hooked up for a moment that produced such lethargy that it was rather captivating. Now raise your glass and toast to mildly interesting moments.

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