Baseball's web gems are reserved for those who make plays on the field with their gloves. But a Rangers fan at Globe Life Field made waves Wednesday with a different kind of webbing.
With the defending World Series champions hosting the Padres for an interleague matchup, a brave, daring and maybe foolish Rangers fan risked life and limb to go after a ball fouled off by San Diego shortstop (and newly minted All-Star) Jurickson Profar.
The result? An impressive save by the ballpark netting, a spilled beer and a viral highlight. Here's how it all went down.
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Rangers fan goes viral after nearly falling into dugout for foul ball
With San Diego holding a two-run lead in the top of the eighth inning, Profar was at the plate for his fourth at-bat of the game. The count was full, and Profar fouled the ball left toward the Padres dugout, setting up the viral highlight.
As the ball went out of play, a Rangers fan walked onto the top of the Padres' dugout and tripped in the safety netting. He lost his footing and nearly toppled into the dugout — but the netting saved him, catching him in the air and bouncing him back upward.
Despite the web gem of sorts, the fan lost his beer in the process. It's the definition of a play you need to see to believe.
lmaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo this is spectacular pic.twitter.com/0MeVnXND2d
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) July 4, 2024
Fans in attendance audibly gasped as their fellow averted disaster, while San Diego broadcasters Don Orsillo and Mark Grant found themselves dumbfounded by the home fans.
"What is he doing? What is that clown doing?" Grant asked before saying: "It's time for Cha Cha to go."
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Fans could be heard booing as the fan was seemingly ejected from the game. But social media detectives allege that the Padres' dugout took no issue with the fan and urged security to allow him to stay.
The Rangers ended up losing, 6-4, to the Padres. But thanks to their fan, the best highlight of the night came from someone wearing a Texas jersey.
