Slater's heroic catch in Cobb's near-no-hitter has shades of Blanco
Slater's heroic catch in Cobb's near-no-hitter has shades of Blanco originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Alex Cobb fell just short of his first career no-hitter in the Giants' 6-1 win Tuesday over the Cincinnati Reds -- but his teammate Austin Slater did all he could to help preserve the feat.
With two outs in the top of the eighth inning and San Francisco leading 5-0, Reds outfielder Will Benson hit a short fly ball to shallow left-center field. Slater put his body on the line to keep Cobb's no-hitter intact, laying out to take a single away from Benson in front of a roaring Oracle Park crowd (and after an unsuccessful challenge by Cincinnati).
AUSTIN SLATER OMG 😱 pic.twitter.com/011EvtpVNS
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 30, 2023
It was a moment Giants fans won't soon forget despite Spencer Steer's spoiler of a double off Cobb with two outs in the ninth, especially since it was reminiscent of another famous catch that preserved a tremendous pitching feat.
Immediately, social media was abuzz with comparisons to Gregor Blanco's incredible catch that saved Matt Cain's perfect game for the Giants in 2012.
Gregor Blanco & Austin Slater #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/2uuMuqeHkL
— Steven Leandres (@sleandres) August 30, 2023
Somewhere in the world, Gregor Blanco is out there smiling and nodding
— Carmen Kiew (@carmenkiew) August 30, 2023
Gregor Blanco just texted Austin Slater to say: S’up? 😎
— Brian Murphy (@knbrmurph) August 30, 2023
Shades of Gregor Blanco. If ya know, Ya know…
— Bonta Hill (@BontaHill) August 30, 2023
AUSTIN SLATER WITH HIS GREGOR BLANCO MOMENT
— Adam (@AdamBannedBoy) August 30, 2023
Slater with an AMAZING catch. Eat your heart out Gregor Blanco. #SFGiants
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) August 30, 2023
Every **-****** has one great defensive play. Austin Slater doing his best Gregor Blanco tonight. #SFGiants
— Anthony Garcia (@SportsAnthony) August 30, 2023
https://twitter.com/TonyCMKE/status/1696731576967589890
Shades of Blanco indeed.
The 2012 Giants, of course, went on to win that year's World Series. And in the midst of a playoff push, Cobb, Slater and Co. certainly have their eye on a similar outcome this season even though the pitcher's no-hit bid fell just short.
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