It just keeps getting more and more bizarre.
During the top of the seventh inning in Sunday’s afternoon matchup between the Blue Jays and Red Sox, Boston third baseman Pedro Ciriaco singled with two outs facing Toronto reliever Brandon Lyon. Ciriaco then stole second with shortstop Jose Iglesias at the plate.
Here’s where it gets weird.
Iglesias worked a 2-2 count — and then was lifted for pinch hitter Daniel Nava, who hit back to the box for the third out of the inning. Mike Aviles took over at shorstop to begin the bottom of the seventh.
Iglesias had not appeared to suffer any injury throughout the game, and, at this point it just seems utter inexplicable as to why Valentine would wait until mid at-bat to make a switch. Did the fact that Ciriaco got to second change his strategy? We’ll have to wait and see, as chances are Valentine will be asked about this one after the game.
Stay tuned, folks.
