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The slow roller up the first-base line is one of baseball's most collision-prone plays.
The pitcher charges in from the mound as the first baseman reads the ball from close range, and both fielders converge on the same few feet of ground with almost no time to redirect.
That geometry produced a serious incident Thursday night at Citi Field, where New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean's knee connected with the head of first baseman Jared Young as both went for a grounder in the top of the sixth inning, leaving Young face-down and motionless on the infield.
The situation developed when Philadelphia Phillies batter Justin Crawford grounded a slow roller toward first base. McLean, pitching for the Mets that night, attempted to jump over his teammate.
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