in the hole

He has also filled in seamlessly on defense for injured shortstop Miguel Rojas, preserving an early 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third Thursday by making a spinning throw to second on a ball deep in the hole for an inning-ending fielder’s choice.

After Freeman hustled to his right to field a ground ball in the hole and spin a throw to pitcher Evan Phillips covering first — “I was like, ‘Come on, you got to get there, you got to get there,’ Freeman recounted later with a laugh — the team’s other three infielders joined a mound visit between Phillips and catcher Will Smith.

"We all watched Liam's ball go onto the green, then up in the hole," he explained.

It’s hard to argue with that, and Tester’s dire condition puts Democrats deep in the hole.

With two out, Rivas had a chance to end the inning on a one-hopper from Hernández, but couldn’t make a backhanded play in the hole at shortstop, letting the ball trickle into the outfield for another run-scoring knock.