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The headline is the scoring notation that would describe Angels shortstop Erick Aybar's strikeout against Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda that ended up with Aybar at third base after Dodgers catcher Gary Bennett made a bad throw for the ages.
The Angels announcers assumed that it never had happened.
Well, it has. And not that long ago. And more than once.
Researcher Mike Emeigh using Retrosheet data and another set of data he has licensed from Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette has found FOUR instances of a batter reaching third after a dropped third strike.
From newest to oldest:
September 2, 2002, 2nd game of doubleheader between Cubs and Brewers - In the fourth inning, Bill Hall of the Brewers strikes out against Kerry Wood, but Todd Hundley makes a bad throw and Hall ends up at third. Wood would strike out the next batter, Ryan Thompson, and then Paul Bako would fan. But Bako would reach on a wild pitch, but Hall didn't score. Pitcher Andrew Lorraine would finally strike out (the fourth of the inning) to get Wood out of the jam. The Cubs won 17-4.
August 24, 1999, Boston at Minnesota - Pedro Martinez strikes out Jacque Jones, but Jason Varitek's wild throw sends Jones all the way to thid. The Red Sox win 7-1 as Pedro fans 15.
August 28, 1998, Atlanta at St. Louis - Kent Mercker of the Cardinals strikes out Andres Galaragga, but the pitch isn't held by Eli Marrero who throws the ball away and the 37-year old Big Cat lumbers all the way to third, where he scores on a ground out by Andruw Jones. Mercker records only one strikeout in the game. The Braves win the game late by a 5-4 margin.
August 24, 1973, St. Louis at Cincinnati - In the top of the sixth, the Reds have two runners and two outs with Andy Kosco at bat against Alan Foster. Kosco strikes out, but Simmons makes an error throwing out Kosco. Larry Stahl and Johnny Bench, who were on base, score and Kosco ends up a third. The Cardinals 4-1 lead is cut to 4-3, but the Redbirds prevail 5-4 in 11 innings.
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