Advertisement

Marlins' Prado makes diving catch on bunt, going from third to first-base line

By Alex Butler
Miami Marlins third baseman Martin Prado makes a diving catch in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday at Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. Photo courtesy of the Miami Marlins/Twitter.
Miami Marlins third baseman Martin Prado makes a diving catch in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday at Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. Photo courtesy of the Miami Marlins/Twitter.

May 16 (UPI) -- Third baseman Martin Prado left his spot to make a diving catch on a bunt down the first-base line during a Miami Marlins win against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Prado made the out in the top of the fifth inning of the Marlins' 4-2 victory Tuesday at Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. Yasiel Puig was on first base after taking a walk to start the inning. Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood then stepped to the plate to face Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen.

Advertisement

Chen tossed in a 90.9-mph fastball with his only offering of the exchange. Wood extended his bat into the strike zone, deflecting the pitch for a bunt down the first baseline. The ball popped up high between Marlins catch J.T. Realmuto and Chen, but neither were in a position to make a play.

But Prado got an excellent jump on the ball. He sprinted from his spot on the hot corner and dove toward the line before snatching the above the grass with his glove. He then threw to first base, but failed to double up Puig.

Advertisement

"Sometimes you just react to plays," Prado said. "The first time I saw him i knew that he was going to bunt down first base just the way I was attacking the play. Just the second time he just hit it in the air and gave me some time to get there."

"Sometimes there are pitchers where if they see you, instead of bunting they just swing," Prado said. "So you are taking that risk."

Chris Taylor hit a single in the next at-bat, before Chen got Joc Pederson to fly out to left field. Prado put out Justin Turner by catching his line drive for the third out of the frame.

Prado went 2-for-4 at the plate and scored a run in the Marlins victory. The Marlins and Dodgers meet again at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday at Marlins Park.

Latest Headlines