The Angels and Astros were tied 10-10 when Jake Marisnick came barreling home on a sac fly from George Springer. Kole Calhoun fired a strong throw from right field, and the collision at the plate was brutal. Marisnick slammed into catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who went down hard. Trainers struggled to stabilize Lucroy, who looked completely out of it. He eventually got carted off with injuries to his face and head. Marisnick looked shaken and unsure how to react. He approached Lucroy to check on him but quickly realized there wasn’t much he could do.
Marisnick later explained on Twitter he thought Lucroy was going to shift to the outside of the plate, leading him to choose a headfirst slide inside. He called it a split-second decision gone wrong and said he felt awful. With MLB’s current rules discouraging collisions, many saw the hit as dangerous and avoidable. The video shows Lucroy holding the line while Marisnick tried to sidestep late. Their heads collided hard, and Lucroy’s older-style mask offered little protection.
The umpires ruled Marisnick out after review. The score stayed tied. Debate continues over Marisnick’s intent, but his reaction suggested remorse, not malice. Lucroy’s status remains uncertain, and the play sparked fresh questions about player safety at the plate.