There were several meme-worthy moments in Major League Baseball on a Wednesday full of games. Topping the list is Jackie Bradley Jr.’s insane catch that robbed the Orioles of a walk-off home run in a game the Red Sox went on to win. Then there’s Josh Bell’s 474-foot home run into the Allegheny River for the Pirates, and the Mariners’ Yusei Kikuchi dominating the Yankees in the Bronx — possibly with the help of some suspicious stuff under the bill of his cap, as several social media users noticed.
Players get a lot of pub for walk-off homers, but what Jackie Bradley Jr. did for the Red Sox on Wednesday night in Baltimore was just as important.
WHAT A PLAY JBJ!
Jackie Bradley Jr. saves the game.pic.twitter.com/bbuRiOJ5I7
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) May 9, 2019
Meanwhile, in a game in which noted masher Joey Gallo hit his 100th career homer for the Rangers, it appears he has some competition in the long-ball department: The Pirates’ Josh Bell, who crushed one into the river in Pittsburgh.
Game recognize game. pic.twitter.com/Ud8x9bMrqE
— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 8, 2019
Mariners rookie Yusei Kikuchi flirted with a no-hitter in a notoriously difficult place to do it, Yankee Stadium. Kikuchi left it obvious he was using pine tar or some similar sticky substance. There’s a rule against that, though it’s very rarely enforced.
YES cameras show pine tar on Kikuchi’s hat. Personally, I don’t mind that pitchers use it. But I know many of you do. So, here you go. pic.twitter.com/M18UH64fzD
— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) May 9, 2019
A well-served Yankees fan near the press box is screaming at the umpire to check Kikuchi’s hat for pine tar.
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) May 9, 2019
Over his last 15.2 innings pitched, Yusei Kikuchi has retired 46 of 54 batters faced, allowing only 6 hits and 2 walks. #Mariners
— MarinersPR (@MarinersPR) May 9, 2019