In the eighth inning, Michael Barrett hit a grounder deep into the hole. Amezaga ranged wide to his right, backhanded the ball and made an off-balance throw from about 3 yards behind the infield dirt.

Mike Jacobs stretched for it, but the ball would have made it on the fly regardless.

"I told him when he came in, 'That's a great play, but I've seen you make a better one,'" Jacobs said.

The play Jacobs alluded to occurred in the Mexican League. Amezaga has it on tape. Playing shortstop with a runner on first, Amezaga dove for a ball in the hole and before hitting the dirt made a no-look, backhand throw to force the runner at second.