Arizona Diamondbacks

Stadium: Chase Field | Manager: Kirk Gibson
26-20 Overall | 1st NL West
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Roberts' smart baserunning makes Gibson proud

The Sports Xchange
 
Roster Report · Notes, Quotes · Roberts' smart baserunning makes Gibson proud
 

Ryan Roberts made a nice read to score from second base on a wild pitch in the seventh inning of the Diamondbacks' 5-4, 11-inning walk-off victory over Atlanta on Wednesday, and no one could appreciate it more than D-backs manager Kirk Gibson.

Gibson did the same thing in 1988, when he did a little of everything in his MVP year with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Roberts, on second after walking and moving up on a sacrifice, took off for third when Scott Proctor's 0-2 pitch to Justin Upton bounced in the dirt and got away from catcher Brian McCann, who did not immediately locate the ball as it bounced to the screen near the D-backs' third base dugout.

Seeing McCann was having trouble, Proctor ran to retrieve the ball, as did McCann. Roberts rounded third hard and did not stop, easily beating the play at the plate after McCann went back to cover home. That tied the game at 3.

"That's the whole thing we talk about -- trying to play hard, run everything hard and doing everything 100 percent. Play hard," Roberts said. "Right away, wild pitch, I just took off running. I glanced in after about three steps and saw McCann didn't know where the ball was. First of all, I was going to give it a hard turn, but I saw them both break for the ball and saw an open plate and took a chance."

Gibson scored from second base for the game-winning run on a wild pitch by Montreal left-hander Joe Hesketh on Aug. 20, 1988. The Dodgers entered the inning trailing, 3-2, before Gibson singled in the tying run with one out. Gibson stole second base with two outs before scoring on a wild pitch on the next pitch.

"You have to anticipate it. It was a great read by Ryno," Gibson said.

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