The Cardinals tried using starting pitcher Jack Flaherty as a pinch runner twice in one week, and both times it backfired. On June 15, with the tying run on base, they subbed out Yadier Molina for Flaherty. After a bloop single by Kolten Wong, Flaherty was waved home. He stumbled slightly rounding third and got thrown out at the plate without much drama. The ump barely seemed interested in the call. Flaherty looked frustrated and admitted he’s just not built for this role. Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was all fired up, while Flaherty, sitting in the dugout, looked like he just wanted to disappear.
Five days later, the Cardinals tried it again. Yadi scored to bring them within one, and once again Flaherty came in to run. This time, he was on second as the tying run and tried to get a bigger lead. But while he was still gauging his lead, he got picked off. He looked stunned and muttered in disbelief, clearly not used to base running in high-stakes moments. Cameras caught him watching the replay in the dugout, visibly upset. Meanwhile, opposing players and coaches could only look on in pity. Flaherty’s frustration was clear—he’s a pitcher, not a pinch runner, and now he’s costing his team games in a role he’s never trained for.