The Baltimore Orioles lost a heartbreaker to the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday, and a very poorly-timed blunder was one of the culprits.
The Orioles trailed 3-2 entering the ninth inning, but Gunnar Henderson led off the inning with a single against reliever Jose Leclerc to give the team a starting point for a rally. However, on a 2-1 pitch to Aaron Hicks, Henderson tried to steal second, only to be thrown out by Rangers catcher Jonah Heim.
TV cameras showed Orioles manager Brandon Hyde looking frustrated in the dugout after Henderson was thrown out, which effectively ended Baltimore’s comeback attempt. After the game, Hyde said the play was the result of a “miscommunication,” while Henderson claimed Hyde had called for it.
Based on the video, Henderson may have believed that the Orioles were calling for a hit-and-run. He could be seen looking toward the hitter while running toward second, which is unusual behavior for a baserunner attempting a straight steal. Regardless, Hicks was not swinging, and Henderson paid the price.
It is not exactly great that Hyde and Henderson did not appear to be on the same page even after the game, much less during it. We know Henderson is a team-first player, so this almost certainly was not some play for personal glory. It’s a very bad time for a miscommunication, though.
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