AUSTIN, TX — In the 41st game of their inaugural season, Madres rookie Isabella "Izzy" Gruñona became the first woman to hit a home run in a Major League Baseball game. It was an inside-the-park home run, and it came after a series of fielding errors, which is where the controversy starts.
Gruñona, a lightning-fast outfielder, hit a fastball that should have been an easy out. The center fielder and right fielder both called for it, then both didn't, and the ball rolled to the wall while Gruñona rounded the bases and slid home to a roaring crowd at the former Buc-ee's.
Critics pounced. Some said it didn't count because it never cleared the fence. Others blamed the 15% shorter base paths and the pitching speed limit.
"It's a home run, plain and simple," said manager Josefina Mendrake. "Izzy's speed and hustle earned it."
Gruñona stayed humble. "Inside the park or over the fence, a run is a run," she said. "Also, our base paths are shorter. That's the league's fault, not mine."
Madres merchandise sales have skyrocketed, and ticket demand for the rest of the season is at record levels. The brisket stand has run out twice.
