Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gregory Polanco slips, chokes, fails in Chicago
May 15, 2015, 5:15 PM | Updated: 5:15 pm
The Chicago Cubs are usually referred to as a cursed team, but Friday they passed on some of that misfortune to the Pittsburgh Pirates — and to one player in particular.
In an extra-inning game at Wrigley Field, Chicago’s Matt Szczur came to the plate with one out, the bases loaded and the game tied against Pirates reliever Radhames Liz.
Szczur hit a shallow pop-up to right field, which shouldn’t have been long enough to score Starlin Castro from third.
That hardly mattered as Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco had trouble fielding the ball. A lot of trouble.
Polanco first slips and then flails with both arms at the incoming ball before watching it drop a few feet behind him.
No, Gregory Polanco… this is NOT how you baseball.
https://t.co/imJFGRmyJb
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) May 15, 2015
The winning run came in easily for the Cubs, who had themselves an 11-10 victory in 12 innings, their fifth win in a row, including their first in this three-game series.
Here’s a closer look at Polanco’s shame:
Those Wrigley ghosts … pic.twitter.com/xxQ88fvI5N
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) May 15, 2015
It was an interesting turn of events, since Polanco had gunned down a runner at home — also Castro with Szczur hitting a shallow fly ball to right field — two innings prior to keep Pittsburgh in the game.
Wake up and smell @El_Coffee. pic.twitter.com/tchcleVVyQ
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) May 15, 2015
Maybe the Cubs’ good fortunes came via their unique rally hats in the 12th inning.
This rally cap is 1-0. pic.twitter.com/I2Byb6Puf8
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) May 15, 2015
