Minor league team screws up routine pop-up, gets scored on after chasedown

The minor leagues are at it again. The El Paso Chihuahuas won handily, 9-5, over the Salt Lake Bees on Friday night. Part of that victory was thanks in part by this wild play in the bottom of the 6th. Rocky Gale hit a pop-up to left field, and it looked like it was going to be an easy catch, especially with three players surrounding the drop. No one caught it, giving Dusty Coleman, who was on second, a chance to advance to third. Nolan Fontana, who muffed the pop-up catch, threw to third, but Coleman avoided a tag. He over-slid and took a chance at running home, which led to a chasedown by Jefry Marte. Marte threw to catcher Tony Sanchez to tag out Coleman, except the ball flew past Sanchez’s glove, letting Coleman score.

This wasn’t the only pop-up error the happen this week. On Thursday, the Midland RockHounds had their own blooper: four players could have caught this pop-up by Springfield Cardinals’ Randy Arozarena. Instead, it turned into a three-base error.

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