How was Minor League Baseball pitcher Hayden Deal able to throw a two-pitch three-out inning in 2018?

With the game tied heading into extra innings, fifth-ranked Pirates prospect Oneil Cruz -- the last batter retired in the ninth -- started at second base in the 10th under the new rules adopted throughout the Minors this season. Deal (7-1), in his third full inning in relief of No. 26 Braves prospect Jasseel De La Cruz, faced Bucs No. 10 prospect Calvin Mitchell. With a chance for the Power to take the lead, Deal expected them to attempt a sacrifice bunt. But the lefty-swinging Mitchell got the green light and pulled an outside pitch to the right side, right to a perfectly positioned second baseman Derian Cruz, who ran to his right and stepped on the bag to nab Cruz -- who was running on contact -- for an unassisted double play. On Deal's next pitch, Deon Stafford lined to third baseman Marcos Almonte to end the inning in the blink of an eye.