May 10 (UPI) — American Ninja Warrior host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila threw a terrible first pitch before the Philadelphia Phillies game Thursday in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 6-3 in the showdown at Citizens Bank Park.
Gbaja-Biamila — who played in the NFL for five seasons — walked up to the plate before the contest and gripped the ball in his left hand. He then rocked his arm forward, but didn’t release the ball at the correct angle.
The ball hit the ground well before nearing home plate, where the Phillie Phanatic was playing catcher.
“Phillies, I think somebody deflated my baseball,” Gbaja-Biamila tweeted.
Gbaja-Biamila took some heat on Twitter for his lack of heat during the toss.
“Yooo gotta call on my @SDSU brotha [Stephen Strasburg],” he tweeted. “I need pitching lessons to redeem myself #HELP.”
Gbaja-Biamila’s NFL Network coworker Daniel Jeremiah also had some fun with his colleague.
“Don’t listen to these critics in your mentions! Personally, I admire the fact you attempted to throw with your left hand,” Jeremiah tweeted. “That took guts!”
“You do know I’m left-handed correct,” Gbaja-Biamila replied.
Phillies pitches faired a bit better than the former NFL defender on Thursday, allowing five hits and three runs, while tossing 15 strikeouts.
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