Ervin Santana & Dee Gordon Battle Leads to 13 Pick-Off Attempts, 1 Stolen Base and 0 Runs

Dee Gordon singled off Ervin Santana to lead off the top of the 5th in Atlanta on Wednesday night. Then the real showdown began. Santana threw over to first 13 times in the inning trying to keep Gordon, Major League Baseball’s steals leader, from advancing to second. Santana struck out Yasiel Puig and got Adrian Gonzalez to fly out. On the 13th pitch of the inning and with a full count on Matt Kemp, Gordon finally swiped second.

Before the next pitch, as Gordon took a lead off second, Santana started talking to him. Was he inviting Gordon to steal third? Warning him there would be consequences if he tried? Quoting Switchfoot? Or maybe just asking politely for him to stay where he was? Whatever he said, Santana avoided a balk and ended up stepping off the rubber. Gordon ended up stranded on second when Matt Kemp struck out on the next pitch. The Braves won 3-2.