The Tampa Bay Rays are in the middle of a road series out west against the San Francisco Giants, and they had perhaps the most wild play of their season in their Wednesday matchup — an inside-the-park home run.
Up 5-0 in the top of the sixth inning, left-handed batter Luke Raley stepped to the plate with the bases empty.
Against Ross Stripling, Raley smashed the ball into deep right-center field, where the ball hit off the brick wall in the outfield of the Giants stadium, then off the top of the wall before shooting past the center and right fielder towards center field.
This caused both players to run after the ball, but by the time they retrieved it, Raley was also crossing third and headed for home.
The direction this ball went was insane. See for yourself.
?INSIDE-THE-PARK HOME RUN ALERT? pic.twitter.com/piGtsMeRXS
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) August 16, 2023
Not only did it hit off the brick wall, but it escaped being a ground-rule double by hitting off the top of the wall below the brick wall. The ball was also just inches away from being ruled a legitimate home run.
The Rays went up 6-0 here before ultimately winning 6-1. The Rays, who are dealing with a massive investigation into their star shortstop Wander Franco, will now start a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels tonight.
