I saw it the same exact way and thought he should have went to first.
After several rewatches, the ball came much farther towards the plate then initially thought...after bouncing off him.
I think with his momentum coming towards the plate and how far the ball came out, the play at first would have been very difficult. he would have needed to pivot and throw.
He had less time and options then first glance and home might have been his only play.
Either way, we got a break in a game where one error would decide it.