Koji Uehara Picked Off Kolten Wong to End Game 4, World Series Tied 2-2

Koji Uehara got the final out of World Series Game 4 in strange fashion. No, it wasn’t another walk-off obstruction call, but it was nearly as unexpected. Instead the Boston closer picked off Kolten Wong at first base for the final out of the game. It preserved a 4-2 win for Boston, which tied the Series up at two games apiece.

A couple things to consider here. First, Wong was a pinch runner for Allen Craig. Craig roped a one-out single to the wall in right. Any other batter is probably standing at second, meaning the pickoff probably doesn’t happen, but Craig is hobbled by an injury and basically can’t run.

Wong, meanwhile, got caught leaning with the Cardinals down two runs and postseason superstar Carlos Beltran in the batter’s box. Beltran is a lifetime .355 hitter in October with 16 home runs.

One other thing to make this play even quirkier. At first base applying the tag for Boston was Mike Napoli who entered the game as a defensive replacement for David Ortiz. Napoli, during his eight seasons in the majors, hasn’t exactly been known for his glove.

As the saying goes, who can predict baseball?

Just to clarify. This is the first game-ending baserunning out IN THE POSTSEASON since the 1936. Sorry for the confusion.
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 28, 2013

Any guesses as to how Monday night’s pivotal Game 5 end? Maybe the “Fan Man” comes out of retirement and crashes into the go-ahead runner trying to score.