San Francisco Giants infielder Pablo Sandoval. (PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES)
San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval's portly physique belies his defensive prowess, but the "Kung Fu Panda" showed a new level of reflexes at the hot corner Tuesday.
The Houston Astros' Jason Castro popped up into foul territory down the left-field line. Sandoval hustled and got under it -- too under it.
As a result, Sandoval fell as he tried to reverse his momentum (and what momentum it was), but the ball still landed in his glove -- for a moment, until Sandoval was alert to flip the ball up as he was falling down. That's when shortstop Brandon Crawford made an incredibly heads-up play to catch it inches off the ground.
Crawford's one of the best in baseball defensively, and it's moments like these that show why.
USA Today