#41 09/05/04 – Progressive Field, Cleveland - Bengie Molina’s No-look Pass

With the Angels trailing the Oakland A’s by four games in early September, every game was critical. With John Lackey on the mound, the Angels were clinging to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the eighth at Cleveland. But the Indians were threatening with a runner on third, and only one out. Manager Mike Scioscia could tell the big Texan was tiring, and turned to Francisco Rodriguez to close it.

K-Rod struck out Omar Vizquel swinging on three pitches to prevent the Indians from tying it up on a cheap out. But there are several ways to score from third without a hit - even with two outs. With an 0-2 count on Travis Hafner, Frankie threw a slider in the dirt that skipped away from catcher Bengie Molina. Ronnie Belliard broke for home in an attempt to tie the game. Bengie chased down the ball and, without looking, threw a backhanded pass to K-Rod who swiped the sliding runner inches from the plate for the final out of the inning! It was an amazing throw, and would have topped ESPN’s highlight reel no matter what situation it had come in. The fact that it preserved the lead in the midst of a pennant race made it a true defensive gem.

Bengie himself ran to a monitor in the clubhouse immediately following the play to see it for himself. “I went downstairs to watch it,” he admitted. “I had to.” Manager Mike Scioscia called it “flat out unbelievable.” Frankie claimed, “By far, that’s the best play we’ve ever made.”

After a futile ninth for the Angels, Frankie proceeded to set down the side in the bottom of the ninth, striking out two, to preserve the 2-1 win. The Angels would finish strong and win the division by a single game. Bengie deserves a “save” on his stat line for that play!