Pirates Pinch Runner Gorkys Hernandez Commits Baserunning Blunder in 14th Inning

The Pittsburgh Pirates' Gorkys Hernandez entered Tuesday night's game against the Detroit Tigers in the top of the 14th inning as a pinch runner, so one would think that his baserunning skills are sound.

It certainly didn't look like it on this play.

With one out in the 14th and Hernandez on first, Pirates pinch hitter Josh Harrison hit a ball in the right-center field gap. Tigers center fielder Rajai Davis gave a great effort to try to rob Harrison of an extra-base hit, but he was unable to make the catch.

Not sure if Davis would make the play, Hernandez initially hesitated before he decided the ball would drop in for a hit. However, when Davis dove, Hernandez—who was already past second base—thought the center fielder caught the ball.

Hernandez made sure to touch second base as he attempted to hurry back to first. When Harrison alerted him that the ball had fallen in, Hernandez reversed course and headed to third—but he never retouched second base. 

Again, Hernandez had just entered the game as a pinch runner.

The Tigers realized Hernandez never retouched the bag and threw to second to appeal the play. Out.

Had Hernandez not turned around when Davis dove, he easily scores the go-ahead run. Even after turning around, he had a chance to give his team a chance to score the go-ahead run with runners on second and third with just one out. Instead, his baserunning blunder nearly cost his team a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 14th inning.

Fortunately for Hernandez, Neil Walker came up with a clutch two-out hit to give Pittsburgh a 5-4 lead—enough for the Pirates to pull out a hard-fought victory on the road.

[MLB.com]