The Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs make-up game has gone off to an entertaining start. And it’s all thanks to a David Peterson balk.
In this important game for the Blue Jays, Jesse Rogers shared on social media what happened.
“Wow, you almost never see this,” the MLB insider wrote in a social media post. “Toronto has first and third with 2 outs, and Cubs pitcher David Peterson throws over to first base 3 times, attempting to pick off George Springer.”
“He’s unsuccessful, so it’s a balk, and the Blue Jays score a run off it.”
Talk about a strange way to go down 1-0 in a baseball game.
Peterson pitched five innings against the Blue Jays in Thursday’s game. In those innings, he has recorded three strikeouts, three walks, and seven hits against. The only run scored against him has been from the balk.
Ryan Rolison replaced Peterson to start the sixth inning.
David Peterson Gift-Wraps Run to the Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays scored off of the balk in the opening inning of the ball game against the Cubs.
On the field, the umpires called a balk on Peterson. This was because of his third disengagement.
On MLB.com, it clearly states that, “Pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance. However, this limit is reset if a runner or runners advance during the plate appearance.”
The league webpage goes on to explain that, “a third disengagement, or a disengagement violation, would result in a balk.” It then adds, “if a third pickoff attempt is made, the runner automatically advances one base if the pickoff attempt is not successful.”
According to the MLB website, this rule was changed in 2023.
David Peterson vs Toronto Blue Jays
The 6-foot-6 hurler has a 6-7 record in 22 games this year. Of those 22 games, 14 of them were starts. Peterson has recorded 85 strikeouts, 40 walks, one save, and one hold while surrendering 109 hits and 11 home runs.
As far as how Peterson has done against the Blue Jays (prior to today), here are the numbers:
- At-Bats: 36
- Hits: 8
- Doubles: 1
- Triples: 1
- Home Runs: 0
- RBIs: 6
- Walks: 4
- Strikeouts: 6
- Batting Average: .222
For all intents and purposes, the Cubs should have kept Peterson in the game. In fact, should the Blue Jays come out with a win, they could point to this decision being the game-changer in this one-off matchup.
Blue Jays Score Bizarre Run Thanks To Cubs’ David Peterson