A controversial lost replay challenge by the Atlanta Braves at the ninth inning on Sunday night was the difference in the game, as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies came out behind in a wild 7-6 victory.
Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm slid home with the ultimate winning run as Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud attempted to use the tag, moving from the third-base side of this plate into the first-base side, where Bohm was arriving in.
Plate umpire Lance Barrett called Bohm safe, although replays showed he would never have touched home plate. Following a lengthy delay for the video challenge, the judgment on the field was preserved.
“In real time, it’s bang-bang,” Braves newcomer Drew Smyly said following the game. “We have five different angles on a national televised match, and it’s apparent that his foot did not touch the plate. It was on the chalk. For MLB not to overturn that, it’s embarrassing. Why have replay if you won’t snore that?”
The official ruling from MLB said the playoff official”couldn’t definitively determine that the runner failed to touch home plate prior to the fielder applying the label .”
“Originally, I didn’t know if he was safe or out, but after watching the replay, it seemed like his foot didn’t touch the bag, from some other angle we saw,” d’Arnaud explained. “I thought that he was obviously out in the plate.”
Players around the globe agreed, with Justin Turner and Mike Trout sharing their own ideas on the call on Twitter.
After Bohm led off with a double sided, Jean Segura hit a ground ball to second, allowing Bohm to reach third base. Lefty Didi Gregorius subsequently hit a shallow fly ball to left field off of Braves reliever Will Smith. Braves left fielder Marcell Ozuna camped under it, then threw a two-hopper into the plate, slightly to the third-base side. D’Arnaud grabbed the ball and then slid toward first to tag Bohm because his left foot got to the plate.
Bohm was asked when he believed he was safe after the match.
“I was known as secure,” he explained. “That is all that matters.”
Phillies manager Joe Girardi added:”We felt like we had an opportunity [to score on the fly chunk ]. It looked like his big toe type of hit on the corner of the plate when we saw all the angles.”
The Braves adamantly disagreed.
“It makes me not even want [replay] anymore,” d’Arnaud said. “It just slows the game down. To me, they got it wrong. I would just rather not have it get the game moving.”
Braves manager Brian Snitker stated he didn’t receive a fantastic explanation by the umpires after the telephone, whilst d’Arnaud stated the replay official in New York should be the one being interviewed. Following the Braves dropped the struggle, the downsized audience at Truist Park responded by throwing garbage on the field, prompting a scolding from Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson.
“I love our city,” Swanson said. “I really like our fans. They’re passionate. They care. But what happened after they declared that telephone is the most embarrassing part of the entire night.
“The throwing of items on the area, it’s disrespectful to the people who put in so much work to have the area ready for us every day. … It’s an embarrassing representation of our town. The worst part of it is that I do not think people realize we have families . There are children that are sitting in front row and you’ve got bottles whizzing by their heads. Endangering children that might not be able to shield themselves is utterly embarrassing and shouldn’t happen again.”
The controversy overshadowed another good game by Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr.. He had three hits, including an infield single on a routine ground ball to short in the first inning. Afterwards, he homered to tie the match at 6-6.
In all, Acuña had nine hits in the three-game series, the most for him over a three-game period in his young career. However, the replay challenge took centre stage in an early-season battle between branch foes.
“They said there wasn’t sufficient evidence, but there were five distinct angles,” an incredulous Smyly declared. “It’s clear. He did not touch the plate.”