The Cubs pulled off a rare rule-based play late in a game against the Marlins. Down by two in the bottom of the eighth, they intentionally walked Jesus Sanchez with first base open. As Sanchez casually jogged to first, Miami tried to pinch-run for him before he touched the bag. Sanchez stopped halfway when he heard his name called, and the pinch runner, Otto Lopez, came in and touched first instead. But Cubs manager Craig Counsell caught the mistake. He realized Sanchez never physically touched first base, which the rules say he has to do before being substituted.
Counsell told the ump they wanted to appeal. After some confusion about whether the ball was live or dead, Cubs pitcher Julian Merryweather tossed over to Cody Bellinger at first. The umps huddled and eventually ruled the pinch runner out. Sanchez questioned it, thinking his walk should still count. But the umps upheld it. Since Sanchez never touched the base, and the pinch runner technically tried to enter without the right timing, the Marlins lost a runner purely due to a procedural misstep. Strange situation, but the Cubs took advantage of a rule that rarely comes into play.