Stealing Home
RedPocket Mobiles Steal Home on Back-to-Back Pitches
MISSOULA, Mont. — On July 2, the RedPocket Mobiles, a Pioneer Baseball League barnstorming travel team, stole home twice on consecutive pitches in the ninth inning, then held on to beat the Missoula PaddleHeads 17-16.
Marquis Jackson was first. Braylon Bishop followed one pitch later.
The Mobiles led 15-13 in the top of the ninth when Jackson drew a leadoff walk against left-hander Matthew Taubensee. He stole second, advanced to third on a flyout, and turned to manager Dmitri Young.
"When do you want me to go?" Jackson asked.
Young hesitated — Hector Nieves, hitting .303, was due up.
"What the hell am I talking about?" he said. "I love playing with fire."
The read was simple. Taubensee, a tall left handed pitcher, had his back facing third base in his delivery and unfolds with a long windup.
"By the time he's getting ready to go, you're in a full sprint home," Young whispered to Jackson.
After strike two was called on Nieves, Young said one word to the speedy Jackson:
"Bye".
Jackson took off as the ball was returned to Taubenssee from his catcher, sliding in headfirst making the score 16-13 in favor of the Mobiles.
Bishop, also on base after following Jackson with a walk, had already stolen second and then advanced to third when Jackson sped home, didn't bother to ask Manager Young for permission.
He saw exactly what Jackson had seen: the pitcher's back was turned, long windup. On the next pitch after Jackson stole home he broke for the plate. By the time Taubensee reacted Bishop practically walked home, with a clearly flustered Taubensee throwing the ball away.
"I knew he was going to take it," Young said. "I wasn't going to hold him back."
Though Missoula scored three in the bottom of the ninth, the Mobiles closed it out, winning the game — and the series — by the two runs they had stolen.
"One thing about this offense — they are fearless," Young said. "We play with no fear and we play with fire."
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