Everyone was so confused after Gavin Lux's HR ball came back onto the field from under the Dodger Stadium wall
You truly never know what you’ll see in a given baseball game. Despite the sport’s 100-plus-year history, a random August game can lead to something we’ve never seen before. And I can assure you that Gavin Lux has never hit a home run quite like the one he hit on Tuesday night.
With the Dodgers down three runs in the fourth inning against the Mariners, Lux appeared to get the Dodgers on the board with a home run to right-center field. Victor Robles made a leaping attempt at the ball and crashed hard into the wall. When he rolled to his side, the baseball was in view on the warning track.
Gavin Lux homered again. His stats since July 11:
39-for-107
.364 AVG
.430 OBP
.682 SLG
8 HR
24 RBI
10 2B
1.112 OPSHis season OPS is up to .716. The Dodgers' second baseman is suddenly playing like one of the best hitters in baseball. What a midseason turnaround. pic.twitter.com/zLYjcy09C7
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) August 21, 2024
The umpires initially signaled home run, which had Lux slowing his run and stopping at third. So, had the ball been live all along, Lux likely would’ve had himself an inside-the-park home run. But none of that actually mattered once the umpiring crew reviewed the play.
The reason the baseball was on the field was that it fell back onto the warning track from *beneath* the wall’s padding. Here’s another look:
Gavin Lux hit a home run…. and the ball somehow snuck back onto the field by going under the wall pic.twitter.com/F0sYsMIa3v
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) August 21, 2024
How does that even happen? The odds for Lux to hit a home run in that specific spot to find a gap in the wall had to be so slim. And despite the initial confusion, Lux was awarded the home run after review. The Dodgers went on to win, 6-3.
Still, fans couldn’t believe how that baseball ended back on the field.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
This is one of the crazier things you’ll see. No one knew what was going on. Also why is there a hole in the fence at a major league stadium??? https://t.co/Xk8SldITgg
— Josh Newton (@Bagdad_Bobby) August 21, 2024
So many wild moments in this game.
Big hit by Lux. But all eyes are on outfielder in rolling in pain after hitting the wall. Play continues. Confusion ensues.
Home run for the Dodgers.
Ball went out of the park and rolled back onto the field under the wall. https://t.co/kBiqdaGtI3
— ABrown (@adelbrown) August 21, 2024
Well now I’ve seen everything https://t.co/gY7YbmC4eT
— slssy k. tran (@snookerst) August 21, 2024
Stunned that can happen https://t.co/AlG5h7b1Vf
— Lights, Camera, Tiff Smile (@twiffidy) August 21, 2024
How crazy https://t.co/630f2DLPfc
— amanda (baseball season) (@amanda522) August 21, 2024
Unreal sequence https://t.co/NlcDiLVSyR
— Eric Sklar (@TheDukeOfSports) August 21, 2024