Twins-A's Game 5

The Twins just missed a golden opportunity. With the bases loaded and 2 out in the second, Denny Hocking hit a line drive to short center. Matt LeCroy scored easily from third but Torii Hunter, the runner on second, had to hold at third. Mulder then made Jacque Jones look pathetic against left handers striking him out on a ball in the dirt.

The question remains why Hunter could not score from second. Joe Morgan beat this horse to death, but I have to agree with him. Hunter has to go on contact with two outs. he is a fast runner. Long, the center fielder, is fast and got to the ball quickly but has a weak arm. On a replay that showed the entire field, Hunter was barely getting into third as Long got to the ball. It's inexcusable.

Even ESPN assumed that he would score. Here are the entries for the play in their game log. They entered one with Hunter scoring and then corrected it without taking at the first one:

-D Hocking singled to center, M LeCroy and T Hunter scored, M Cuddyer to third.
-D Hocking singled to center, M LeCroy scored, T Hunter to third, M Cuddyer to second