Rays’ Junior Caminero explains play that happened right before Brewers’ 5th inning outburst appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Rays were defeated 10-1 by the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night in Game 3 of the World Series. Milwaukee now holds a 3-0 series lead. However, could things have been different if third baseman Junior Caminero made a different decision in the 5th inning? There has been no shortage of debate around the question since Game 3 saw the Brewers score eight runs in the 5th.
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With runners on first and second and two outs in a 2-0 ball game, Brewers slugger William Contreras hit a ground ball to Caminero’s left. The third baseman fielded the ball cleanly but attempted to throw Christian Yelich out at second base for an inning-ending force out. Yelich was initially called out, but the call was later over-turned, leading to Milwaukee having the bases loaded.
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Brice Turang followed the play with a two-RBI single. Milwaukee, as mentioned, went on to score eight runs to take a 10-0 lead.
Caminero explained why he went to second base as opposed to attempting to throw Contreras out at first, via Mark Skol Jr. of FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
“Yeah, I already had in mind going to second base,” Caminero told reporters. “I knew the speed at first base wasn’t necessarily the best in that situation, so going into the moment I was, you know, once I got the ground ball I was going to second base all the way.”
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It’s difficult to blame Caminero for the decision. The ground ball he received was taking him toward second base. Rays fans will always be left wondering if the disastrous inning — and possibly an 0-3 World Series deficit — could have been avoided if he did throw the ball to first base, however.
Related: How Rays can shock Brewers and pull off historic 0-3 World Series comeback
Related: Rays pitcher Cam Booser gets brutally honest on nightmare 5th inning vs. Brewers
