Grissom's bounce-pass relay seals double play in Angels' rout of Cardinals

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Vaughn Grissom executed an unconventional bounce-pass throw to initiate a double play during the Angels' 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. With the sun sitting directly in second baseman Oswald Peraza's line of sight, Grissom deliberately fired a ground-level throw into the dirt midway between himself and second base, allowing Peraza to catch the ball on the skip and sidestep the glare. Peraza then threw cleanly to first baseman Nolan Schanuel to complete the play.

The sequence unfolded in the top of the third inning, one out recorded, with a runner on first. Cardinals catcher Iván Herrera hit a ground ball to Grissom, who fielded it cleanly before recognizing the visual obstacle Peraza faced. The improvised relay - borrowed in form from basketball - turned a routine defensive opportunity into a notable piece of situational awareness. Grissom, 25, also contributed offensively, driving in a run with a line drive to right field during a five-run first inning that effectively settled the outcome early. water polo betting offers

The Angels sent five of their ten hits to the plate in that opening frame. Designated hitter Jorge Soler sparked the rally with a two-run double, Grissom followed with his run-batted-in single, and right fielder Jo Adell capped the inning with a two-run home run. Starting pitcher Walbert Ureña provided the durability to protect the advantage, completing six innings while allowing one run on six hits and striking out five. The performance lowered Ureña's ERA to 2.78. The victory extended the Angels' winning streak to four games, matching their longest run of the current season. Los Angeles improved to 41-61 on the year.

St. Louis, by contrast, has dropped ten of its last fourteen games and fell to 51-49. The Cardinals had entered the series above the .500 mark, making the skid consequential as the second half of the season progresses. The Angels will attempt a three-game sweep when the teams meet again Wednesday at Angel Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 4:07 p.m. ET.