It was supposed to be just another regular-season clash between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox, but what unfolded that evening at Fenway Park turned into one of the strangest, most unpredictable games of the 2024 MLB season.

From bizarre weather delays to an ending no one saw coming, fans and players alike were left scratching their heads and laughing in disbelief.

A Game That Wouldn’t Start

The chaos began before the first pitch. Heavy thunderstorms rolled through Boston, causing a nearly 3-hour rain delay. Spectators clung to ponchos, food vendors ran out of hot dogs, and both dugouts were filled with players playing card games, stretching, and struggling to stay warm and ready. Many questioned whether the game would even be played, but around 10:30 p.m., the skies finally cleared.

The Sloppy Start

The wet infield led to slippery conditions, and errors started piling up almost immediately. The Cardinals committed two throwing errors in the first inning alone, while the Red Sox botched a routine double-play in the second.

Fans were treated to an unusually high number of walks, passed balls, and miscommunications that resembled a minor league blooper reel more than a professional MLB game.

Bats Come Alive Late

Despite the sloppy play, both teams finally got into a groove offensively. By the seventh inning, the score was tied 5-5, and neither bullpen looked sharp. Nolan Arenado crushed a solo homer in the eighth to give the Cardinals the lead, but Rafael Devers responded with a two-run blast for the Red Sox in the bottom of the frame.

The Walk-Off Balk

The strangest moment of the game came in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos appeared visibly rattled by a pitch clock violation just moments earlier. Then, in a moment of pure confusion, he began his wind-up, suddenly stopped mid-motion, and was immediately called for a balk by the home plate umpire. The Red Sox runner on third jogged home as fans erupted—not in celebration, but in shocked amusement.

Players React

“That was probably the weirdest ending I’ve ever been a part of,” said Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar after the game. “We were all just like, ‘Wait, did we just lose on a balk?’” Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen called it “a fever dream of a baseball game.”

The Bigger Picture

Though just one of 162 regular-season games, this bizarre contest served as a reminder of why fans love baseball—anything can happen. The walk-off balk instantly trended on social media, sparking debates over pitch clock pressures and weather-related scheduling. MLB officials might review how extreme delays affect player performance.

For now, it stands as one of the most unforgettable games of the season, with rain, errors, home runs, and an ending worthy of baseball’s hall of weird.