BOSTON – Paul Molitor's warning was prescient.
"I always say good baserunning can be a momentum-changer," the Twins manager said before Thursday's game, when asked of Eddie Rosario's full-speed-ahead approach to capturing extra bases. "It can work adversely, too."
It certainly can. The same go-for-it instinct that compelled Rosario to race from first to an uncovered third base, catching Toronto third baseman Yangervis Solarte off guard Wednesday — "Some guys have the feel, the awareness and the anticipation that the risk is worthwhile," Molitor said approvingly — can also short-circuit a scoring opportunity when he gets too overaggressive.
Which is what happened Thursday. Rosario, having drawn a one-out walk in the sixth inning with the Twins trailing Boston 1-0, easily reached third base ahead of Jackie Bradley's throw when Brian Dozier singled to center, sliding head-first into the base. But he wasn't done.
When third baseman Rafael Devers threw to second base to try to retire Dozier, who opportunistically moved up a base, Rosario saw second baseman Brock Holt make an awkward catch, with his back to third. So he jumped to his feet and decided to try to score.
Big mistake. Rosario was easily thrown out, and a second-and-third, one-out threat suddenly became a one-on, two-out situation that fizzled on a Robbie Grossman ground out.
But Molitor said he was OK with the play, though it would have been a better risk had there been two outs.
"He's going to do those things. Unfortunately, the slide he made into third may have cost him a step or so in getting his break. But he almost caused an errant throw," said Molitor, who added Rosario's decision-making is greatly improved this year. "If you win by a run, you'd be singing his praises."
