Astros’ Season Peaks With Brandon Barnes’ Gift Cycle

Astros center fielder Brandon Barnes hit for the cycle on Friday night, and went 5-for-5 against the Mariners to boot. This was probably the best moment of a dismal Astros season. And it maybe needed a blown call to happen.

The Barnes cycle was pretty cool—he went homer, triple, single, double, and legged out an infield single in the bottom of the ninth for good measure—but that double doesn't look quite right on replay. Here are three GIFs of the different angles of the play.

I'm not sure which one of those is definitive proof that he beat Brad Miller's tag safely, and all three appear to show Miller putting his glove between Barnes and second base.

Individual frames suggest the same:

But, well, the Astros' best moment of 2013 so far came in the eighth inning of their 62nd loss of the year. They deserve a blown call in their favor here or there.

[ MLB]

Photo: Bob Levey/AP