Brett Gardner stepped into the box with a 2-0 count and a runner on first. Astros catcher Martín Maldonado looked to the dugout for the pitch call and got the green light for a fastball down the middle. He didn’t seem thrilled about it and even made a face, clearly questioning the decision. Still, they stuck with the call.
Gardner didn’t miss. He crushed the pitch, sending it over the fence like it was batting practice. His reaction was low-key, like he wasn’t surprised. Meanwhile, the whole moment looked like a miscommunication between the dugout and batterymates. The pitch choice raised eyebrows, and Gardner made them pay. It came off like a gift, and he treated it like the home run derby.