The Atlanta Braves dropped a tough 2-1 decision to the San Diego Padres on Friday night, wasting a home run from Ronald Acuna Jr. in his return to the lineup. It's not just the fact they lost that is tough, but it's the way they lost in the ninth inning.
With the Braves down by one run and the tying run on second base, Ozzie Albies ripped a single to center field that looked like it might be able to tie the game.
There was just one problem.
Eli White, who was put into the game to serve as a pinch-runner for Alex Verdugo, misread the play, thought it was caught by Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill, and was thrown out while shockingly trying to retreat to second base.
Oh my god. Just brutal for the Braves.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) May 24, 2025
Tying run was on 2nd base in the 9th inning. Base hit to CF and Eli White thought it got caught.
So instead of scoring the tying run he gets throw out running back to 2nd base.
They lost the game the next AB
pic.twitter.com/DwCgJwnCKM
Everything about this play is incredible, from White thinking the ball was caught (when it was not even close), to Merrill's throw being perfectly cut off by first baseman Luis Arraez, to him making the throw back to second base to get the out.
White was almost all the way to third base before he turned around to retreat to second base in one of the most baffling base-running mistakes of the season.
The game ended on the next at-bat when Michael Harris II grounded into a fielder's choice.
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