MINNEAPOLIS — A Sunday 10th inning call was overturned, leading to a 3-2. Blue Jays A victory and an expulsion Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli called the play “one the most terrible moments I’ve ever seen of umpiring in any baseball game I’ve ever played in.”
Caleb Thielbar The Twins pitcher pitched the 10th and Toronto’s sacrifice fly was given up. Cavan BiggioWith Whit Merrifield Starting at third. Merrifield was originally called out at third to try to score the game-winning run. But the Twins catcher changed the call. Gary Sanchez Merrifield was found to be infringed.
Baldelli stated, “It was one of the most horrible moments I believe we’ve seen of umpiring at any game in baseball, and it was pathetic what just happened,”. He was ejected from the game for arguing the call. It was the eighth time this season that Baldelli was kicked out.
Officials from Replay determined that Sanchez didn’t create a clear path for Merrifield. His right foot collided against Sanchez’s left leg when he was sliding into home plate. The inning would have ended with the out.
Merrifield stated, “I had a feeling there would be a play at home plate.” “I put my head down for the first few steps, then I looked up to see Gary at home plate. So I tried to slide in to him as best I could. I was able to figure out the rule, but it was just a matter if they were going for it.
Sanchez claimed that he had abandoned a path.
“He slid towards my. Sanchez said, “I’m just tagging” him. “I had the ball first. He could have slipped to the side if the line was open. He didn’t. It was a clean play.
After missing a save opportunity in ninth inning, Jordan Romano The Twins were eliminated in the 10th inning by a 1-2-3 score.
Tampa Bay finished two games behind Toronto in the race for the American League’s top wildcard. After a win by Cleveland, Minnesota’s lead at the AL Central dwindled to one game.
Similar events took place in the Pittsburgh Pirates8-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles Sunday: Pittsburgh’s Greg Allen Initially, I was called out in seventh. This inning broke the game open for Pirates. But upon closer examination, it turned out that catcher had been called out. Robinson Chirinos Allen was declared safe after it was determined that he had violated the home plate collision rule.
Major League Baseball released a statement saying that the catcher’s original setup was in foul territory and that he continued in that position even though he had no possession of the ball.
Derek Shelton, manager of the Pirates, stated that it was an easy decision for him to challenge this play.
Shelton stated, “That’s probably as confident as I have been on any challenge that we’ve faced.” “We didn’t even pick up the phone.”
After the call was reversed, Brandon Hyde, Orioles manager was expelled.
Hyde stated that he thought Chirinos was at a good place. “It seemed like his right shoe was on the line. He was beaten by the ball.
“The throw from the left field line gets him to the plate. I don’t know what a catcher should do at this point. It’s probably the backhand. I disagree with all of it. I do not agree with this call.
Pittsburgh was now 5-1 ahead after that run. After what would have been the third inning, the ruling kept the Pirates’ rally alive.
This report was contributed by The Associated Press.