Baltimore Orioles to blame: Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Hicks
Gunnar Henderson was thrown out in the ninth inning of Game 1, in which the Orioles were down a run. Henderson was out by a country mile thanks to Rangers catcher Jonah Heim, who is an AL All-Star and one of the best backstops in baseball.
God I love Gunnar Henderson.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) October 8, 2023
It has been revealed that Aaron Hicks missed a Hit and Run sign in the 9th inning yesterday when Gunnar got thrown out.
After the game, Gunnar didn’t reveal what happened to not throw anyone under the bus. pic.twitter.com/8odcSvinFx
While Hyde initially called the play a miscommunication, he has since put the blame squarely on Hicks, saying it was meant to be a hit and run. Hicks did not swing at his pitch during the AB, and Henderson never really had a chance as a result.
It's a little unclear what happened in this event, but either Henderson or Hicks were not on the same page as the team. In such a vital moment -- the ninth inning of a playoff game -- it's an error that couldn't be afforded.