A rogue bird ended up taking stadium staffers on a wild goose chase during Game 2 of the National League Division Series. The game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres was interrupted when a greater white-fronted goose appeared on the field in the bottom of the eighth inning.
This type of bird usually migrates through California in the fall and gave the home fans a sort of boost as the home team attempted to stage a comeback from a 5-3 deficit.
Stadium employees tried to get a hold of the bird on the field during a break but the fowl led them on a wild goose chase around Dodgers Stadium. It escaped capture on a few occasions, which delighted the crowd, players and announcers calling the broadcast.
In one instance, the goose even landed near Dodgers’ player Cody Bellinger, causing the player to be on alert until the bird was escorted off the field.
Unfortunately, any signs of a comeback with the “rally goose” were shortlived after Padres pitcher Josh Hader’s postseason save. This one-inning-plus save appropriately joined the company of Padres pitcher “Goose” Gossage, the first player in team history to record a postseason save of more than one inning.
The series between the Dodgers and the Padres is now tied at one game a piece and will resume on October 14, 2022.