Well, that’s one way to a bang-bang play.
Infielder Graham Pauley had the unfortunate distinction of striking out in tough fashion in what ultimately became a 3-2 Padres loss to the rival Giants on Friday afternoon.
But it wasn’t an ordinary run-of-the-mill strikeout against submariner Tyler Rogers, as Pauley swung and missed enough for the actual baseball to hit him in the shoulder, face and helmet.
Pauley, according to ESPN, claimed after the game that he had actually tipped the ball before being rung up on strikes.
While replay did seem to confirm this, it was not a reviewable play because he swung, and the strikeout stood.
Pauley, who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on the day, is now just hitting .154 on the season.
The at-bat was one of several missed opportunities for the Padres, who had six hits but just went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, losing the game in the bottom of the ninth inning on a walk-off hit from Thairo Estrada.
The loss dropped the Padres to 4-6 on the season.
The Giants are now 3-5.
