The most exciting play in baseball is the play at the plate, trying to nail the runner attempting to score. So many moving part. So much has to go right for it to work.

With the Rangers holding a slim 2-1 lead heading into the ninth, they naturally brought in Jacob Latz to close it out, like he usually does. 

Former Rangers centerfielder Leody Taveras, who’s having his best season in the major leagues now with the Baltimore Orioles, led off the ninth with a single. The good news was, as Rangers fans are well aware, Taveras was always afraid to steal in big situtions. So, he stayed put at first as Latz threw six pitches to strike out Colby Mayo for the first out. That was fortunate for the Rangers.

The next Oriole hitter was Christian Franklin, a kid just acquired at the trade deadline who was looking for his first major league hit, and trying to get it off an all-star closer having a monster year. 

Franklin lashed a double down the right field line and the beauty of baseball unfolded.

Taveras made the mad dash around the bases for home, probably going around third a bit too wide, costing him a step or two that he’d need.

The ball hit the turf, took a sharp right, bounced up against the wall in foul territory, and shot straight Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo on the warning track. By this time, Taveras was just getting to third. 

In one fluid, artistic motion, Nimmo scooped up the ball, spun around toward the infield, and unleashed a laser beam of a throw to his cut-off man. 

That was the first moving part that needed to go right, and it did. 

With Taveras rounding third, Nicky Lopez took the desperation throw from Nimmo, pirouetted, and turned it into a targeted laser beam to his catcher Elias Diaz waiting in front of home plate. 

Just like clockwork, the throw and the runner arrived at the same vicinity at the same time. Taveras slides in a desperate attempt to make it. Diaz twists his body around, flinging his arm toward Taveras in a desperate attempt to have his glove touch him anywhere before that foot eludes him and touches the plate. 

Diaz’s glove nips Taveras’s chin as Taveras’s foot was inches from tying the game. The both collapsed onto one big heap at home as home plate umpire John Libka threw up his fist and declared Taveras out. But not before Diaz rolled over to show him he still had the ball. Barely. The ball wanted to escape Diaz’s glove. It made the attempt. But like Taveras, it was unsuccessful in its efforts.

Of course there was the obligatory litigation, but in the end, Diaz got him.

And there it was. The most beautiful play in baseball. Nailing a runner at home trying to score the tying run against the home team in the top of the ninth.

Nimmo to Lopez to Diaz. 

Rangers win the first of three against the Orioles 2-1. 

*****