Deep into a marathon game against the Chicago White Sox, Phillies manager Gabe Kapler ran out of available pitchers and was forced to move center fielder Roman Quinn from the outfield to the mound, and rely on starter Vince Velasquez to fill in as a left fielder. In doing so, Kapler may just have discovered his team’s best defensive player.
Quinn, who hit a home run earlier in the game, was bailed out by Velasquez in the top of the 14th, when the pitcher made an unbelievable throw to the plate to prevent the go-ahead run from scoring.
Quinn got out of the inning unscathed, but the White Sox put the position player under pressure again in the 15th. With runners on first and second, Jose Abreu ripped a ball directly to Velasquez – who very nearly threw out another runner at the plate.
Moments later, Velasquez got the Philadelphia out of the inning with what was statistically the best catch by a Phillies outfielder all season long.
Despite Velasquez’s defensive heroics, the Phillies couldn’t extend the game and the White Sox held on for a 4-3 win.
