BFFs Garc¨ªa, Arozarena make back-to-back incredible catches
Juan Toribio
@juanctoribioSEATTLE -- When they were prospects in the Cardinals¡¯ system, roommates and best friends Adolis García and Randy Arozarena often dreamt of playing in an All-Star Game together.
That dream came true Tuesday as they started in left and right field, respectively, for the American League. Garc¨ªa and Arozarena made sure to waste no time putting on a show for the fans at T-Mobile Park with two spectacular catches in the outfield to start the game in an eventual 3-2 loss to the National League.
¡°It was unbelievable,¡± said Orioles outfielder Austin Hays, who was in center field when Garc¨ªa and Arozarena made their catches. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ve ever experienced anything like that to open up a game. That was incredible.¡±
It initially looked like Braves superstar Ronald Acu?a Jr. was going to lead off the game with an extra-base hit off Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Garc¨ªa, on the other hand, had other plans.
After initially battling the sun in right field, Garc¨ªa quickly adjusted and made a strong leaping catch as he banged off the wall. Following the catch, Cole raised both of his arms in gratitude.
¡°The sun was really tough out in right field,¡± Garc¨ªa said in Spanish. ¡°At first I really couldn¡¯t see the ball, but I just followed it and was able to make the catch.¡±
Garc¨ªa¡¯s catch got the sold-out T-Mobile Park crowd on its feet. Four pitches later, Arozarena wanted a piece of the action.
Dodgers star Freddie Freeman smoked a liner to left field that had at least a double written all over it. But as he ran full speed to his right, Arozarena jumped up at the wall, crashing into it and robbing Freeman of extra bases. As he ran past second base, Freeman raised both his arms and smiled at Arozarena, giving the outfielder some love for his robbery.
¡°You can¡¯t take hits away and get hits, you have to pick one,¡± Freeman joked with Arozarena.
¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Arozarena responded.
After the catch, Arozarena, as only he can do, turned to the fans in the bleachers and showed off the trademark pose that became viral worldwide during the World Baseball Classic. In right field, Garc¨ªa also did ¡°The Randy,¡± as he pointed to his old friend.
¡°It was a special first inning,¡± Arozarena said. ¡°Honestly, [Garc¨ªa] kind of motivated me to make that second play and we really enjoyed it. We just stared at each other and did my pose and I was really happy for him, and for my performance tonight.¡±
When Arozarena and Garc¨ªa found out they were starting the All-Star Game, both joked that they were going to fight over who wins the Most Valuable Player Award. For two plays, those jokes almost started to become a reality.
¡°We just said we had a leg up on trying to win the MVP,¡± Garc¨ªa said, when asked what he told Arozarena after the catches.
In the end it was Rockies catcher Elias D¨ªaz who won the award thanks to a clutch two-run homer in the eighth inning. But it was quite the start to the Midsummer Classic for two Cuban-born outfielders that have turned into best friends over the last decade.
¡°It was really fun,¡± Garc¨ªa said. ¡°Randy and I made some incredible catches. I thought it was really funny and really cool what happened tonight.¡±