PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks batter Ketel Marte was on the defensive in the 10th inning of a recent game against the Cincinnati Reds, desperately fouling off a handful of 100 mph heaters and 90 mph sliders from flamethrower Graham Ashcraft in a riveting battle.
Then on the 13th pitch of the at-bat, the three-time MLB All-Star muscled a 99 mph cutter into right-center field for a tying single.
Score one for the hitters.
Ever so slightly, they appear to be winning a few more of these fights and getting some wood on the baseball.
“Good things happen when you put it in play,” Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.