Given that Los Angeles Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully has been on the call for 66 seasons, there isn’t much at this point he’s yet to experience.
However, even Scully was taken aback over what transpired between the Dodgers and Texas Rangers on June 18 at Dodger Stadium.
An otherwise ordinary Thursday evening featuring Zack Greinke and Anthony Ranaudo as the starting pitchers ended in unprecedented fashion.
The Dodgers’ balk-off victory won the Esurance MLB Award for Best Call, TV, it was announced on MLB Network. Earlier Friday, the Dodgers’ video announcing Scully’s return won for Best Video Board Moment.
Having lost the previous three games against to Texas, Los Angeles came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the game locked in a scoreless tie.
Greinke struck out eight batters over seven scoreless innings, and was back by J.P. Howell and Kenley Jansen each throwing a shutout frame of relief.
Rangers rookie and Los Angeles, Calif. native Keone Kela was tasked with sending the game into extra innings. He quickly found himself in a jam after issuing back-to-back walks to Yasmani Grandal and Andre Ethier with no outs.
Kiké Hernandez pinch-ran for Grandal after the catcher led the inning off with a walk, and Hernandez advanced to third base on an Alberto Callaspo double play.
Representing the game-winning run and with Jimmy Rollins at the plate, Hernandez faked as though he was going to attempt stealing home and drew the balk on a 1-2 count.
The walk-off win was the Dodgers’ sixth to that point in the season, and their first time winning on a balk since May 31, 2010 when Casey Blake drew one against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Esmerling Vasquez on the mound.
