CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Billy Butler #16 of the Oakland Athletics is greeted by his teammates after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning on September 17, 2015 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, Illinois. The A's won 4-2. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Avisail Garcia of the Chicago White Sox was the victim of some unfortunate luck on Thursday afternoon.
With Chicago closer Daniel Robertson trying to cling to a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth, Oakland Athletics slugger Billy Butler crushed a deep drive to right field. Garcia, who leads the AL in outfield assists and is one of the more consistently above-average defenders, ranged back and jumped at the wall. He caught the ball, but his momentum carried the glove over the edge and the ball popped out for a three-run homer.
For the Sox, it was agonizingly close to an amazing catch that would have kept the game tied. For Butler and the A's, it was a miraculous turn of events.
Butler has had an extremely tough first season in Oakland, hitting just .254/.325/.392 with 13 home runs and a -0.6 WAR entering play Friday, but he's hit .368/.419/.632 so far in September. Moments like Thursday's haven't come often for him in 2015, but the A's would like to see this hot streak carry over into next season.
(h/t MLB.com)
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