To the shock of absolutely no one, the Miami Marlins have been pretty terrible this season. And things got progressively worse this week when star slugger Giancarlo Stanton was forced to the 15-day DL with a broken hand. But every now and then, the baseball gods' benevolence shines through and Marlins fans get to experience something truly cool.
And Tuesday night was one of those times. In an epic display of lightning and mayhem, second-baseman Dee Gordon showed off his ridiculous speed by hitting a three-run inside-the-park home run.
During the bottom of the second, the Marlins had a man on second and third when Gordon stepped up to the plate to face Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong.
The Giants' defense played in since Gordon's hits usually fall shallow, and San Francisco needed only one out to get out of the inning. But this little strategy proved to be fool's gold against Gordon's comic-book-hero speed.
Vogelsong wound up, pitched, and Gordon lined the ball into the right-center gap. And the insanity ensued.
Giants right-fielder Gregor Blanco had to run back for the hit and, since he, like everyone else in the park, knew Gordon has jets for feet, rushed to get the ball and slightly misplayed it. This was all Flash Gordon needed.
Blanco flipped the ball to center-fielder Angel Pagan, but by this time, Gordon had already rounded second.
The Giants' defense scrambled and saw Gordon was headed full-steam toward home. The throw was made, but it was too late. It wasn't even close.
Dee Gordon defied physics and reality and used his warp-speed abilities to hit what was his first homer of the season in grand style.
According to the video, the unofficial time for Gordon to round the bases was about 12 seconds, which is bananas.
Gordon was brought to the Marlins in the off-season to be the table-setter for guys like Stanton and to be a base-stealing threat. So far this season, he has 26 stolen bases and is hitting .351 with 20 RBI and a .370 on-base percentage.
Dee Gordon wasn't going to let a batter's helmet slow him down. (via @MLBGIFs) pic.twitter.com/keur8GUPBx
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) July 1, 2015