Jacob Young Stars in Spectacular Defense and Secures Nationals Victory
Washington Nationals center fielder Jacob Young became the key figure in Sunday’s game by making two amazing catches that frustrated the New York Mets, who suffered a costly defeat.
Young demonstrated his defensive prowess by robbing Brett Baty of extra bases with a spectacular catch in the fifth inning. Later, in the ninth, he made an impressive leap to prevent a home run by Francisco Alvarez that would have tied the game.
In the fifth inning, with the Mets down 3-1, Baty hit a deep fly ball to center field against Jake Irvin. Young ran back and, although he got tangled up a bit, managed to catch the ball that was going over his head.
After turning his body and jumping towards the wall, the ball escaped his glove upon hitting the fence. However, the ball never touched the wall, and Young, staggering, lifted it with his right foot, hacky-sack style, before catching it a second time in a circus-like play.
The umpires immediately called Baty out as he ran towards second base.
In the ninth inning, Alvarez started with a powerful fly ball to center-left field. Young, again, ran back and jumped, this time cleanly catching the ball at the top of the fence, thus securing the 3-2 victory.
Later, the Mets, who have lost 11 of their last 15 games, tied with Cincinnati for the last National League wild card spot, after the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0.
