In a hilarious turn of events, the St. Louis Cardinals pulled off a rare double play after Chicago Cubs star Ian Happ committed a baserunning blunder during a recent game. The blunder left fans scratching their heads and Cardinals players laughing all the way to the dugout.
The play unfolded in the third inning when Happ, known for his speed on the basepaths, attempted to steal second base. However, in a moment of confusion, he tripped over his own feet and fell flat on his face halfway between first and second. As he desperately tried to crawl back to first, the Cardinals’ second baseman, Joe Schmoe, quickly tagged him out.
But the comedy didn’t stop there. As Happ scrambled to his feet, he made a mad dash for second base, only to realize too late that the ball was already back in the pitcher’s hands. With lightning-fast reflexes, the Cardinals’ shortstop, Bobby Bumbles, caught the ball and tagged Happ out for the second time in a matter of seconds.
“It was like watching a Three Stooges sketch,” said Cardinals manager, Frank Laughsalot. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought I was watching a rerun of America’s Funniest Home Videos.”
The play left Happ red-faced and the Cubs’ manager, Timmy Tumbles, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’ve never seen anything like it in all my years of coaching,” Tumbles said. “I think Ian must have been watching too many slapstick comedies instead of practicing his baserunning skills.”
Despite the embarrassing blunder, Happ took the incident in stride. “Hey, you win some, you lose some,” Happ said with a sheepish grin. “I guess today was just a ‘lose some’ kind of day for me. But hey, at least I gave the fans a good laugh, right?”
As for the Cardinals, they couldn’t be happier with their unexpected double play. “We may not have won the game, but we definitely won the comedy award for that play,” Schmoe said with a chuckle. “Who needs a home run when you can get two outs in one fell swoop?”
And with that, the Cardinals added another chapter to their storied rivalry with the Cubs – one filled with laughter and good-natured ribbing. Let’s hope Happ invests in some better running shoes before their next matchup!
