The Pittsburgh Pirates suffered yet another frustrating shutout loss on Thursday night, falling 1-0 to the Seattle Mariners in a game where their bats once again failed to deliver.
But amid the offensive drought, a single moment of pure defensive brilliance gave fans a reason to stand and cheer and it came from none other than Oneil Cruz.
While Paul Skenes dazzled on the mound with a masterful performance, striking out 10 batters over five shutout innings, it was Cruz‘s cannon arm in the first inning that became the story of the night.
Seattle‘s J.P. Crawford was on second base when Jorge Polanco cracked a single into center field. It looked like an early run was guaranteed. But then came the play that left jaws on the floor.
Cruz charged the ball, fielded it cleanly, and fired a one-hop rocket to catcher Henry Davis at home plate. The ball arrived at a blistering 105.2 miles per hour and beat Crawford to the plate with ease. Davis applied the tag, the crowd erupted, and even Paul Skenes couldn’t contain his admiration.
“That was unbelievable,” Skenes said in the post-game press conference. “Yeah, I had the best seat in the house. Henry played it perfectly, too. It feels lucky, but I know Henry and Oneil created luck for me there.”
That run-saving moment was all the more critical considering how anemic the Pirates‘ offense was. Despite Skenes‘ dominance and five strong innings, the team couldn’t muster a single run, resulting in a bitter 1-0 sweep. But Cruz‘s throw was the silver lining.
The defensive gem instantly went viral across social media. Major League Baseball’s official Instagram account showcased multiple angles of the play, including a slow-motion replay that made it even more dramatic. The caption summed it up best: “What a throw by Oneil Cruz.”
Even interim manager Don Kelly was left speechless.
“105? I didn’t even realize,” Kelly said. “Honestly, one of the best plays that I’ve seen live… just an amazing play.”
Pirates still plagued by offensive woes
Despite the Pirates‘ disappointing offensive output with a sixth shutout in their last 14 games, the talk of the night in Pittsburgh revolved around Cruz’s stunning throw. It was one of those rare, goosebump-inducing moments that reminded fans why they still show up, even when wins are hard to come by.
Cruz‘s throw is now officially one of the fastest-recorded outfield assists in recent MLB history. The fact that it came in the first inning, saving a run early and energizing both the dugout and the home crowd, only adds to its legend.
With Skenes continuing to prove he’s the real deal and Cruz adding defensive fireworks to his résumé, there’s still plenty of talent on the roster. Now, if only the Pirates could figure out how to string together some hits, they might start turning these narrow losses into much-needed wins.
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