NewsNot so fast: Wolf, Martin lose track of outs
LA batterymates think third inning ends after two down
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
06/30/09 3:29 AM ET
LOS ANGELES -- It was vintage Randy Wolf.The left-hander tossed a 68-mph curveball on a 1-2 count past the bat of a guessing Chris Iannetta for strike three and the third inning was seemingly over.
Catcher Russell Martin just rolled the ball toward the mound and the batterymates trotted back toward the Dodgers' dugout.
But there was just one problem -- it was just the second out of the inning.
"For some reason, we just both thought there was three outs," Wolf said with a laugh after the game in which the Dodgers won, 4-2, over the Rockies in 13 innings. "I have no idea why. I think I like Jedi-mind-tricked him into thinking there was three outs."
Martin also chuckled when asked about the play after the game and jokingly blamed Wolf for walking toward the dugout first.
"I caught the ball and saw him walk toward the dugout and so I just went with the flow and tossed the ball back," Martin said. "I wasn't even thinking."
It was especially strange because Wolf had retired the first batter of the inning on just four pitches when Ryan Spilborghs grounded out to third base.
But Wolf regrouped after the gaffe as he was able to strike out Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez to end the inning for real this time, keeping the game scoreless.
It marked Wolf's third strikeout of the game as the left-hander eventually struck out five batters over six innings but was saddled with his 11th no-decision this season after allowing a two-run home run to Spilborghs in the fifth and getting it back with a two-run single of his own in the bottom of the fifth.
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
