MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Twins manager Rocco Baldelli went into a rare tirade on the field Sunday after replay officials overturned an out call at the plate that gave the Toronto Blue Jays the deciding run in a 3-2 win at Target Field.
Cavan Biggio hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and Whit Merrifield scored on an overturned call to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 3-2 victory over the Twins on Sunday and split the four-game series.
Whit Merrifield was originally called out at the plate, but the call was reversed following a replay review, where crews in New York ruled Twins catcher Gary Sanchez interfered with Merrifield.
“It’s one of the worst moments I think we’ve seen of umpiring in any game I’ve ever been a part of in baseball, and I think it was pathetic what just played out,” said a seething Baldelli after the game in a profanity-laced statement.
The normally mild-mannered Baldelli was ejected for arguing the reversal, the eighth time in his career he was thrown out of a game and third this season.
Replay officials ruled Sanchez did not establish a clear lane for Merrifield, whose right foot collided with Sanchez’s left leg as he slid into home plate.
Former MLB umpire Tim Tschida, who grew up in St. Paul, told Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News that the play appeared to be called correctly on the field.
"I see it as being extremely nit-picky," Tschida said. "You have to have clear, and concise, and determining evidence that the call was incorrect. I didn't see that."
As for rule 13.7, which outlaws catchers blocking the plate without the ball as a way to prevent injuries, Tschida has his own opinion.
The rule was created before the 2014 season after a home-plate collision left San Francisco catcher Buster Posey severely injured.
"Sometimes things just happen, and you can't reinvent the game just because somebody got hurt," Tschida said.
The out would have ended the inning.
It appears Merrifield knew exactly what he was doing when he ran down the line, with Tim Beckham's throw right on target.
“I had a feeling there was going to be a play at the plate,” Merrifield said. “Put my head down first couple steps then looked up and tried to figure out how to get into home plate and saw Gary straddling home plate so tried to just slide into him, straight into him best I could. I know what the rule is, it was just a matter of if they were going to call it.”
Sanchez argued that he left a path.
“He slid towards me. I’m just tagging him,” Sanchez said. “I had the ball first. I think the line was open for him to slide to the side. He didn’t. It was a clean play.”
Toronto remained two games ahead of Tampa Bay for the top wild card in the American League.
Minnesota’s lead in the AL Central shrank to one game after a win by Cleveland.