‘Spider-Man’ does it again: A’s defensive stud makes another highlight play
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A's rookie Denzel Clarke robbed another hit, thrilling fans with elite defense.
- Clarke ranks among leaders in outfield outs above average despite just 25 games played.
- Closer Mason Miller rebounded from struggles, sealing win with a strikeout.
Just 11 days after a spectacular home run robbery, that earned him the “Spider Man” nickname and his second-consecutive Electric Play of the Week award, his third this season, A’s rookie outfielder Denzel Clarke was honored with a poster commemorating the catch, which was given out to the 8,578 fans in attendance at Friday night’s 5-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians.
But “Spider-Man” doesn’t take days off, and the fans holding posters got to see yet another improbable catch late in the game. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
With a runner on first base and the veteran slugger Carlos Santana at the plate, A’s closer Mason Miller wasn’t in the best spot. Not because of the individual hitter, but because it was the third straight lefty Miller had seen, and it wouldn’t be the last of the inning.
Santana rocketed a 97 mph line drive up the middle that had a roughly 5% chance of being caught, according to data website Baseball Savant. A’s manager Mark Kotsay suggested that even that percentage is too high an estimate.
“I’d like to see another center fielder in the game make that play,” Kotsay said postgame. “It was probably the biggest play of the game.”
‘It’s just incredible’
A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler said when the ball is hit towards Butler, he has no doubts it will be caught because he is “automatic.”
“I don’t know if there’s anybody better than him in center field right now,” Butler said. “He’s just doing it, and he’s been doing it since day one. I mean, every week, he’s the top play the week, and it’s just incredible.”
Clarke is third among MLB outfielders and in the 99th percentile in outs above average with nine, trailing only the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Boston Red Sox Ceddanne Rafaela, according to Baseball Savant. But Clarke has made his mark in just 25 games, while both Crow-Armstrong and Rafaela have played more than 70.
While below average batting — a .195/.225/.260 slash line with one home run — has limited Clarke’s total production, he is still a net-positive contributor with 0.5 wins above replacement thanks to his all-time defense.
After the game, MLB’s official X account posted a minute-long highlight reel of Clarke’s best plays and sang his praises in the caption.
“Let’s recap: Denzel Clarke has played 25 Major League games, and his defensive highlight reel is already awesome,” the post read.
Kotsay still has confidence in closer
Miller, an All-Star last season, has struggled early this year, pitching to a 5.20 ERA that included nearly blowing Thursday night’s game after a three-run home run from lefty slugger Victor Caratini, before Nick Kurtz came up clutch in extra innings with a walk-off blast.
The struggles have been worse against lefties, who have an OPS over 1.000 and four home runs in just 37 at-bats against Miller. Righties are wallowing to a mere .457 OPS against the closer.
After the full-extension play, Miller ended the game with a strikeout, surrendering no runs and holding the A’s lead.
“There’s still a lot of confidence in Mason being able to get lefties out,” Kotsay said. “He showed that tonight.”
