Major League Baseball

Fielding foibles of Chisenhall, Naquin doom Indians

Published Nov. 2, 2016 2:15 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

CLEVELAND (AP) Addison Russell lofted a fly ball, and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall and center fielder Tyler Naquin converged.

Probably an easy play in a half-filled ballpark on a hot summer night, the 284-foot, first-inning fly turned into a dangerous and disorienting disaster for the Cleveland Indians.

With a loud, raucous crowd packing Progressive Field hoping to witness Cleveland's first World Series title since 1948, Chisenhall pulled up and looked at the onrushing Naquin, who was a few feet behind him.

A 25-year-old rookie who made his debut on opening day, Naquin had no chance by then to make the catch. The ball bounced past him for a two-run double as Anthony Rizzo scored and then Ben Zobrist, who bowled over catcher Roberto Perez. The Chicago Cubs built a three-run lead before Jake Arrieta threw his first pitch.

Cleveland never recovered, and Chicago coasted to a 9-3 win Tuesday night that forced the Series to a deciding Game 7.

Baseball practice says corner outfielders defer to their teammate in center. Chisenhall, a 28-year-old converted third baseman in his sixth big league season, appeared to follow the protocol.

By the third inning, Chisenhall took charge and cut in front of Naquin to catch Kris Bryant's fly with a runner on. Chisenhall and Naquin had a long discussion during a pitching change later in the inning, joined by left fielder Coco Crisp. Three pitches later, Russell hit a grand slam off Dan Otero for a seven-run lead.

Naquin, the 15th overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft, hit .296 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs this year but entered 4 for 23 (.190) with two RBIs in the postseason.

Indians manager Terry Francona had considered starting Rajai Davis in left but decided against it.

''This is kind of who we are,'' he said before the game.

In the crucible of the World Series, defense can go awry.

Last year, Kansas City's Alcides Escobar drove the first pitch of the Series to the left-center warning track, where Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes and left fielder Michael Conforto came together. The ball ricocheted off one of Cespedes' feet and rolled along the fence as Escobar sped around the bases with the second inside-the-park homer to lead off a Series game.

A year earlier, San Francisco center fielder Gregor Blanco allowed Alex Gordon's two-out single to bounce past him for an error that put the potential tying run at third base with two outs in the ninth inning - some questioned whether Royals third base coach Mike Jirschele should have waved Gordon home. Madison Bumgarner then retired Salvador Perez on a foulout, saving the Giants' 3-2 win in Game 7.

And with Game 7 in 1968 scoreless in the seventh inning, Detroit's Jim Northrup hit a two-on, two-out drive that was misjudged by St. Louis center fielder Curt Flood and fell behind him for a two-run triple. The Tigers held on for a 4-1 victory behind Mickey Lolich, the last pitcher to win three starts in a single Series.

Cleveland ace Corey Kluber will try to match that feat in Game 7 on Wednesday night.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball