Francisco Lindor’s Tricky Slide Negates Jackie Bradley Jr.’s Perfect Throw

BOSTON — Jackie Bradley Jr. has victimized plenty of baserunners with his monster arm. But even the Red Sox center fielder’s rocket couldn’t track down the elusive Francisco Lindor.

Lindor’s Cleveland Indians led the Red Sox by a run in the third inning Friday night when Indians batter Jose Ramirez lifted a fly ball to Bradley in center field. Lindor tagged up at third base to try to score, and what followed was a pair of very impressive baseball plays.

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Bradley’s throw was on the money, one-hopping right into Christian Vazquez’s mitt. But Lindor managed to score anyway by expertly contorting his body to avoid the Red Sox catcher’s tag.

We believe that’s what former Sox first baseman Mike Napoli would call a “ninja slide.”

The play appeared very close, and Vazquez summoned the Red Sox’s dugout to consider a challenge. But the Indians shortstop’s hand clearly slipped in before Vazquez’s tag, and Boston let the play stand as called.

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Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images