Question: When is a two-run inside-the-park home run not a home run but both runners score on the same play anyway?

Answer: When it’s a double and both runners are awarded home on a two-base throwing error, of course.

As crazy as it sounds, this is exactly what happened during Wednesday night’s exciting 3-0 shutout win over the Washington Nationals in front of 44,911 at Dodger Stadium.

After Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw lost his bid for a perfect game with one out in the top of the sixth inning, the Dodgers were clinging to a precarious 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. With one out and nobody on base, Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson was hit on the right foot by a pitch from Nationals right-hander Drew Storen.

When Pederson got hit on the foot by Drew Storen’s 83-MPH slider, it set into motion a series of unusual events. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

With a runner now on base in a one-run game, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly opted to have Andre Ethier pinch-hit for rookie second baseman Jose Peraza. And just as he has done so many times in the past, “Captain Clutch” delivered with a double off the wall in the right field corner.

Andre Ethier came up with yet another clutch hit in Wednesday night’s exciting 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Where things got crazy is when Pederson (apparently) lost track of the ball and (apparently) wasn’t watching third base coach Lorenzo Bundy and stopped at second base. He then (apparently) realized that Ethier was coming to second base no matter what so he broke for third. In doing so and as this cluster … was unfolding, Nationals second baseman Anthony Rendon, who had taken the cutoff throw from right fielder Bryce Harper, realized that he now might have a play on Pederson at third base – and he probably would have if he hadn’t airmailed his throw into the stands behind third base for a two-base error which, of course, allowed both Pederson and Ethier to score.

It was as crazy of a play as you will ever see, especially in an otherwise well-played game and outstanding pitchers duel between Kershaw and Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmerman. One can only imaging what the folks following the game on MLB Gameday must have thought when they saw this:

As it turned out the two unearned runs didn’t matter, as Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen preserved Kershaw’s shutout by retiring the Nationals in order in the top of the ninth to collect his 22nd save of the season to give Kershaw his 10th win of the season. Kershaw also stuck out eight in his eight innings of work while allowing only three hits and no walks. The defending 2014 NL MVP and reigning NL Cy Young award winner also became only the 10th pitcher in MLB history to record 200 or more strikeouts in six consecutive seasons – and he’s only 27 years old.

For the second time in less than a month, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took a perfect game beyond the fifth inning on Wednesday night. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The bizarre play in the Dodgers half of the eighth inning is proof once again that just when you think you’ve seen everything in the crazy game of baseball, you suddenly see something that you haven’t.

I love this game!