Jacoby Ellsbury, the ‘Man of Steal’ topped Harper’s single season steals record in the first inning against the White Sox on Tuesday night when he swiped third base off of ChiSox pitcher Freddy Garcia and catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
The speedy leadoff hitter reached base when his shot to the right-center gap one-hopped into the bullpen for a ground-rule double. Ellsbury’s record-setting 55th swipe of the season came during the first pitch of Dustin Pedroia‘s at bat. The fastball was mishandled by Pierzynski, who didn’t get a throw off as Ellsbury slid into the bag uncontested.
“I was definitely happy to do it here at home in front of the fans. Through the whole thing they’ve been great, you see the signs in the stands — it’s a good feeling,” he told NESN’s Heidi Watney. “When you start the season with a goal and achieve it, it makes it that much better.”
The steal paid off as Pedroia would bounce out softly to the first baseman two pitches later to plate Ellsbury with the game’s first run.
Harper, who held the previous record with 54 steals in the 1973 season, had 408 career steals in 15 seasons including 107 in three years with the Sox.
