In the eyes of most Nationals fans, Juan Soto hasn't put a foot wrong since he came up to the majors in May. However, the rookie phenom nearly committed an egregious error on Wednesday because he was so excited for a teammate.
With the Nats trailing the Phillies 7-6 and down to their final out, Soto doubled to right field, setting the stage for Ryan Zimmerman. And as the man called "Mr. Walk Off" often does, he delivered.
*pretends to be shocked that Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk-off HR* pic.twitter.com/RukBxKMRiN
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals)
August 23, 2018 Soto crossed home plate, tying the game, but Zimmerman was forced to stop at second because the hit was initially ruled a double. The umpires gathered to review the play, and soon confirmed that the ball had in fact cleared the right field wall.
However, as Zimmerman began to round the bases, Soto went running after him to celebrate. If he had touched Zimmerman, Zimmerman would have been ruled out for passing the runner in front of him, sending the game to extras.
Davey Martinez screamed at Soto while Zimmerman waved at the rookie to stay away, and thankfully for the Nats, Soto got the message.
A joyous Juan Soto chased after Zim once umps overturned the call and called it a homer. If he touched Zim, Zim would’ve been called out, for passing the runner in front of him. Zim, on what he was thinking: “Stay away. Stay away. Just please stay away. That would’ve been awful.”
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko)
August 23, 2018 Zimmerman on what he said to Soto when he saw him charging after him: “Get away. I don’t even know the rules but get away.”(Zimmerman would have been out if Soto touched him)
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
August 23, 2018 Ryan Zimmerman would have been out if Juan Soto touched him as he was running the bases. Dave Martinez said he was “screaming bloody murder” as Soto was jogging across the infield.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse)
August 23, 2018 Juan Soto's accounting of what happened after it was ruled a walk-off home run is awesome: "Zim was like, ‘Get away.’ And I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ Then I turn around and see everybody at home plate and said, ‘Damn, I have to be there.’”
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse)
August 23, 2018 It was the 11th walk-off home run of Zimmerman's career, putting him in some elite company on the clutch homer charts.
With tonight's walk-off HR, Ryan Zimmerman has tied David Ortiz and Tony Perez for 8th most in @MLB history. (11) pic.twitter.com/M0jfb6BWTD
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals)
August 23, 2018 Ryan Zimmerman just hit his 11th career walkoff home run for the @Nationals.Most Walkoff Home Runs for Single Team - All-TimeMickey Mantle, NYY - 12Stan Musial, StL - 12Babe Ruth, NYY - 11Ryan Zimmerman, Was - 11#OnePursuit
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS)
August 23, 2018 Follow Josh Luckenbaugh and 106.7 The Fan on Twitter.
