McAdam: Jackie Bradley Jr.'s incredible catch saves the day

In the box score, the save will go to Heath Hembree -- the first of his career, and a fine outing it was, too, since he struck out all three hitters he faced to wrap up the Red Sox 2-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles in 12 innings.

But do not be fooled. Hembree was awarded the save based on Rule 10.20, which deems that a save shall go the pitcher who is ''1) the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club and 2) he is not the winning pitcher and 3) qualifies under one of the following conditions....'' and blah blah blah.

You know the rest.

In actuality, the man who truly, literally saved the game was not a pitcher at all. It was Jackie Bradley Jr., who as an outfielder, can't qualify for the official save.

But that's just a technicality.



Because if Bradley didn't sprint 91 feet in the bottom of the 11th inning and soar majestically over the wall in left-center at Camden Yards, and fully extend himself several feet over that wall and catch a ball that Trey Mancini and just about everybody else believed was going to be a game-winning homer, then Hembree would not have the chance to protect a lead.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1126319208936218624

Without Bradley's catch, the game would have ended then and there. And Andrew Benintendi wouldn't have had the opportunity to hit a go-ahead homer of his own, and Hembree wouldn't been called upon to record his first career save.

Because the game was going to be over. Until Bradley decided otherwise, prompting several Orioles in the bullpen to gape in disbelief and hang their head in resignation. Even Mancini couldn't believe it, and from his spot on the basepath between first and second, could only doff his helmet in salute to Bradley.

As Bradley detailed his approach, he was asked which aspect of the catch -- the pursuit, the leap, the timing -- was most important.

"Everything,'' Bradley told reporters. "I don't think one thing's more important than the other. It really doesn't matter if you don't do all of them right, so, ultimately, catching the ball is the main thing.''

As if "catching the ball'' -- with that degree of difficulty, under those circumstances -- were as simple as breathing.

Bradley had no margin for error. If he's a step too slow in arriving at the wall, the Red Sox lose. If he mistimes his leap, the Red Sox lose. If he doesn't secure the ball in his glove as he brings his arm back into the field of play, the Red Sox lose.

Bradley, of course, has done very little offensively in the first six weeks of the season. With another 0-for-4 night, his batting average dipped further to .142 and his OPS is a paltry .410. He has knocked in just five runs and collected just three extra-base hits -- all doubles -- in 32 games and 106 at-bats.

This season was going to be different. Bradley insisted that he had finally fixed his swing in the latter half of last year, and spent the winter working with his swing guru in California to further lock himself in.

Instead, it's been the same painful start as last year, when he was hitting well below .200 into mid-June. Maybe the mechanics have changed, but the results haven't.

And so, Bradley contributes how he can. The other night in Baltimore, he made a terrific diving catch to take a hit away. In his postgame remarks Wednesday, Bradley hinted at his offensive struggles.

"You definitely want to be able to impact the game and find ways to help the team win,'' he said, "and that was one of them tonight. If I don't catch it, we go home.''

But he did, and the Red Sox got another inning, and made the most of it.

Catches like that are why Bradley's name keeps getting written into the lineup, batting average be damned. His skill set of range, throwing arm and instincts is probably unmatched among center fielders in the big leagues. If he's not the absolute best at his position, he's on a very, very short list those who are.

Nights like Wednesday help make up for the 0-for-4 nights at the plate, help cancel out the climbing strikeout totals. Few can do what he does in the outfield.

So let Hembree have the save. The box score only tells part of the story.

Bradley's catch -- improbable, bordering on the impossible -- told the rest of it.