Infield Fly Rule Knowledge Costs Giants as Reds Turn Two

Brandon Phillips took advantage of the infield fly rule to turn a double play, thanks in great part to the Giants baserunner's apparent lapse of rules knowledge. With one out and two on (R1, R2), Giants batter Hunter Pence hit a 0-1 fastball from Reds pitcher Tony Cingrani to Phillips at second as 2B Umpire Bill Welke called

Diagramed play: Infield Fly called, mirrored.

"infield fly," judging that infielder Phillips could catch the fair fly ball with ordinary effort. Phillips allowed the ball to drop untouched in front of him, fielded the ball and threw to shortstop Zack Cozart, who tagged Giants baserunner Buster Posey, who had taken off for second base, unaware of the rule's invocation.

Pursuant to Rule 2.00 (Infield Fly), the ball remained alive and baserunners Gregor Blanco (R2) and Buster Posey (R1) were permitted to advance at their own risk. Batter Pence was declared out upon Welke's declaration of "Infield Fly."

Phillips camps, Welke calls, Blanco tags.

Replays indicate Welke's mechanized infield fly signal was immediately mirrored by 1B Umpire Fieldin Culbreth and HP Umpire Brian O'Nora (3B Umpire Adrian Johnson was not visible in replay angles shown on either broadcast) and that Welke's call preceded Posey's attempt at advancement; Posey had retreated to first base and took of for second upon the dropped ball, apparently unaware of the umpire's call.

Though all broadcast crews credited Phillips with a heads up play, San Francisco's Jon Miller had his own take on who dropped the ball (figuratively): "1B Coach Roberto Kelly should be just screaming it out to Buster and I also did not see 3B Coach Tim Flannery [call to Blanco]."

The Cincinnati Reds, leading 1-0 at the time, ultimately won the contest in walk-off fashion in extra innings.

Brandon Phillips has shown his baseball smarts before, as pertains to the infield fly rule. In 2010, he turned the trick, perhaps accidentally, against St. Louis after Cardinals batter Matt Holliday popped up to Phillips in shallow right. 2B Umpire Mike Reilly called for an infield fly as the ball fell untouched, Phillips fielding the ball and throwing to second base where Orlando Cabrera stepped on the bag. Mistakenly thinking he had been forced out, baserunner R1 Albert Pujols left first base and headed for the Cards' dugout as Cabrera tagged him for the final out of the inning. (Video: Phillips engineers double play.)

Video: After infield fly call, Phillips allows ball to drop untouched, doubles up the running Posey (CIN)