Why Jazz Chisholm intentionally let a pop-up drop in a way that made Yankees’ Gerrit Cole happy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. intentionally let a pop-up drop to the grass on Friday night.

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His pitcher, Gerrit Cole, was thrilled.

It’s not normally a combination you see. A pitcher usually wants his pop-ups to be caught.

This is a special situation, though, and Chisholm made a brilliant move.

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Why did Jazz Chisholm let a pop-up drop?

There was one out with Cedric Mullins on first when Hunter Feduccia hit a pop-up for the Rays.

There’s no infield fly here, because there needs to be runners on first and second for that to apply.

So when Chisholm let the ball drop, he could then force out Mullins at second base — since Mullins had to wait near first base on the assumption that the ball would be caught.

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Mullins is much faster than Feduccia. Either way, this play would end with two outs and a runner on first. Chisholm ensured the slower runner would be on first rather than Mullins.