It was a scenario that San Diego Padres center fielder Trent Grisham had probably imagined before:
Bases loaded, two outs, full count and you’re down by one in the bottom of the ninth. Outside of postseason baseball, you won’t find many situations with more drama and tension than that.
But man, you have to think that Grisham would have imagined handling that scenario better than he did on Sunday.
During the Padres’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Grisham was up at the plate against Devin Williams with a chance to tie or win the game for San Diego. It’s a count that the hitter has to be prepared to swing because he knows the pitcher needs to throw a strike. That’s what made the result so shocking.
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Bottom of the ninth
Down a run
Bases loaded
Two outs
Full countThe last time a batter struck out looking in this situation (before tonight) was back in 2006. pic.twitter.com/pQkOUmPSwy
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 17, 2023
Grisham watched as a 94 mph fastball caught the upper portion of the zone for a game-ending strikeout looking. It was nearly the same pitch and location that Grisham fouled off on the previous pitch, but for whatever reason, he didn’t swing the bat when he needed to.
According to Codify, it was the first time a batter had struck out looking in that exact scenario since 2006 — 17 years!
Grisham had to be swinging there, and fans couldn’t believe he let that pitch go.