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Another Balk-Off July 5, 2011

Kansas City Royals pitcher Aaron Crow ended last night’s game against the Chicago White Sox in an unusual fashion – he balked in the winning run. As David Pinto at Baseball Musings notes, Crow was selected as an All Star this year. Counting last night’s game, he’s pitched 41 1/3 innings in 34 games, finishing 10 of them, with a 1.96 ERA and a K/BB ratio of 2.16 (41/19). It’s his first balk of the season.

Crow came in to start the eighth inning with the Royals leading 3-2. Crow opened by allowing Brent Morel to single, followed by a two-run homer to designated hitter Adam Dunn, dropping behind 4-3. Crow then hopped out of the inning with a pop fly to Paul Konerko, a strikeout to Carlos Quentin, a walk to Alexei Ramirez, and a groundout for Alexis Rios. During the top of the ninth, Eric Hosmer tied it, so when Crow came in for the bottom of the ninth, the score was tied 4-4.

A.J. Pierzynski singled to start the ninth for Ramon Castro, Gordon Beckham bunted him over to second, and he advanced to third on a wild pitch to Mark Teahen (who was pinch hitting for Brent Lillibridge). Teahen struck out, and Juan Pierre walked. Pierre took second on defensive indifference, and while Adam Dunn was at the plate, Crow balked by apparently stepping off the rubber after coming set. That brought Pierzynski home and, of no consequence, Pierre to third.

D.J. Carrasco, of course, balked in Diory Hernandez back on June 16th, with the last balk-off before that coming in May of last year.

At least when Carlos Marmol threw a wild pitch to bring home Jayson Werth, there was no question about what happened.