SAN FRANCISCO — More than a decade into his major league career, Brandon Crawford is still making jaw-dropping plays at shortstop.
The three-time Gold Glove Award winner gave fans at Oracle Park a reminder that he remains one of the game’s best defensive players by starting a 6-4-3 double play in the sixth inning on Friday with a glove flip to second baseman Donovan Solano.
With Nationals catcher Tres Barrera at the plate, Crawford ranged up the middle and laid out with a full-extension dive to snag a groundball headed toward center field. The 34-year-old stayed on his belly and rotated from the ground as he flipped the ball to Solano, who grabbed it with his bare hand for a force out before firing onto first baseman Darin Ruf to complete the double play.
HOW?!
pic.twitter.com/Wjhyjp6Q3a
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 10, 2021
Crawford’s latest web gem helped out reliever Zack Littell, who struck out the next Nationals hitter and posted a scoreless frame to keep the Giants ahead 4-3.
At 34, Crawford is the only player above the age of 32 with at least 50 starts at shortstop in the majors this season. He continues to defy expectations for a player at his age at one of the most demanding positions in baseball as his .882 OPS is 90 points above his previous career-high while his defensive skills remain on par with the best in the game.
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Author: Kerry Crowley