Follow the bouncing ball -- off the runner's back! -- for wild out at 2nd base

MILWAUKEE -- The Tigers got an out for the highlight reel, the Brewers got an insurance run and amateur physicists everywhere got a lesson in what happens when a moving object hits … well, another moving object.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who isn’t an expert in physics but has been around the block in baseball.

Here’s the setup: Seventh inning at American Family Field. The Brewers, looking to build on a 3-0 lead, had two runners aboard when catcher William Contreras hit a bouncer to Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who pivoted and threw to shortstop Trey Sweeney covering second.

Unfortunately for Torkelson, his throw hit the Brewers’ baserunner, Brice Turang, in the back. Fortunately for Torkelson, the unique physics of the thing meant that the carom continued toward Sweeney, who squeezed the baseball for an out while a run scored.

By avoiding a double play, the Brewers were able to tack on a second insurance run after Christian Yelich snapped an 0-for-16 funk with a base hit that pushed Contreras to third for Rhys Hoskins’ RBI single. That hit capped a big night for Hoskins, who began the day hitting .182 with no homers and finished 3-for-4 with a 440-foot solo shot and two RBIs.

Milwaukee would go on to win the game, 5-0, evening the three-game series.