Machado’s Hidden Ball Trick Backfires but Padres Still Prevail
On Saturday night, the San Diego Padres found themselves in one of those classic baseball “you had to see it” moments. In the third inning against the Boston Red Sox, Manny Machado tried to pull off the rarely seen hidden ball trick. The setup was perfect—or so it seemed. Alex Bregman had just been caught in a rundown, and Machado, holding onto the ball at third base, noticed Red Sox runner Jarren Duran taking a lead. With quick hands, he applied the tag. By all appearances, it looked like Duran had been caught.
But then came the twist. Pitcher Wandy Peralta was standing on the rubber without the ball. According to Rule 6.02(a)(9), that’s a no-go. If the pitcher is on or astride the mound without the ball, it’s considered a balk. In this case, that meant Duran was not out—instead, he was awarded home plate, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. Trevor Story also advanced to third. What could have been a slick defensive highlight instantly turned into a costly mistake.
Also Read:After the game, Padres manager Mike Shildt addressed the play with refreshing honesty. He admitted it was partly on him for not preparing the team for such scenarios in spring training. “You just can’t be on the rubber when that happens,” he explained. Still, he credited Machado’s quick thinking, calling it another sign of the third baseman’s high baseball IQ. The problem wasn’t the idea—it was the technicality that undid it.
Balk calls have always carried a bit of mystery for casual fans, and even players sometimes find themselves puzzled. This was a textbook example of how a sharp defensive move can be undone by a little-known rule nuance. Peralta’s innocent position on the mound, which gave the appearance he was about to pitch, was enough for the umpire to make the call.
The good news for the Padres? This misstep didn’t derail the game. In extra innings, Ramón Laureano came through with a clutch walk-off single in the 10th, sealing a 5-4 victory. That win pushed San Diego’s record to 65-52, keeping them just three games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
Hidden ball tricks are already rare—the last successful one happened back in 2013 when Evan Longoria caught Juan Uribe off guard. Saturday night could have been another addition to that short list, but instead it became a quirky reminder of baseball’s intricate rules. Even so, a win is a win, and the Padres left the field with momentum still on their side, knowing they’ll need every bit of it if they’re going to keep chasing the Dodgers down the stretch.
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