Yasiel Puig makes diving catch to keep perfect game intact (Video)
By John Buhler
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig makes an incredible diving catch at the warning track to help keep a perfect game intact for the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill was dealing Saturday night against the Miami Marlins. Hill pitched a perfect seven innings before strangely being pulled Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts. The Los Angeles bullpen would later end the no-hit bid shortly after Hill’s exit.
In every perfect game or no-hit bid, there usually is a dynamic defensive play that bails a pitcher out of a certain hit. In this game against the Marlins, that play was outfielder Yasiel Puig’s diving catch at the warning track to end the seventh inning.
Marlins Park is known for having a spacious outfield. Near that monstrosity of a sculpture in left-center field, Puig leaves his fee to help keep Hill’s perfect game intact. Puig had essentially been disowned by the Dodgers after a rough summer for the former superstar outfielder.
This was Puig’s first start in left field for the Dodgers since his rookie season in 2013. His amazing diving catch shows that Puig is still the dynamic athlete that defected from Cuba only a few years ago. Should his stint in the Minor Leagues be a wake up call for him, Puig could be huge for the Dodgers down the home stretch of the 2016 MLB season.
Though Hill’s perfect game was broken up by a Jeff Francoeur hit off reliever Joe Blanton, Los Angeles would go on to beat Miami 5-0 down in South Beach on Saturday night. The Dodgers hold a 4.5 game lead on their arch rival in the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
Next: 10 Biggest Hotheads in MLB History
At 80-61 through 141 games, the Dodgers look like a lock for the No. 3 seed in the National League Postseason. Los Angeles is looking at a NLDS with the Washington Nationals if the season ended today.