A weird sequence had the Orioles fuming throughout their 6-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday after what seemed like an inning-ending double play became a catalyst for a Toronto rally.
The Orioles had a 4-1 lead within the sixth inning at Rogers Centre when Ernie Clement reached base on a fielding error by Gunnar Henderson that positioned runners on the corners with one out.
That’s when Brandon Valenzuela got here as much as the plate and hit a ball up the center to Henderson, who seemed as if he reached out to tag the baserunner after which made the throw to first.
Baltimore thought that Clement had run out of the basepath and could be known as out for doing so, however as a substitute, second-base ump Nic Lentz known as Clement secure, believing that the runner had altered his path so as to permit Henderson to make the play.
The Orioles have been furious with the decision and extra so when it allowed Kazuma Okamoto, Andrés Giménez and Nathan Lukes to drive in runs.
Righty Shane Baz got here out of the sport after Okamoto and Giménez received hits, and as he did, the pitcher shouted towards the umpire, “You f–ked up,” in keeping with Jomboy Media.
“The one motive I’m not going to speak about that play is as a result of I’ll get fined,” Baz advised reporters following the sport, in keeping with the Related Press. “That’s the one motive.”
Henderson advised reporters that he “felt like, not an ideal name.”
Talking with a pool reporter after the sport, the umpires expanded on the rationale for the decision.
“The runner has the precise to ascertain his basepath, and so Clement had established his basepath to keep away from the fielder from potential interference,” Lentz mentioned, in keeping with the Baltimore Banner. “Although Henderson reached out for a tag, Clement’s basepath was already established on the market, going to the second base, so due to this fact it was not out of the baseline.”
Crew chief Hunter Wendelstedt went so far as to explain the choice to change the basepath a “very gentlemanly factor to do.”
“He was getting out of the way in which to permit the fielder to make the play towards first base,” he continued. “It simply so occurred that, you understand, then they tried to spin it to get two, however his [Clement’s] basepath was already established, and it was not making an attempt to get out of that.”
Orioles supervisor Craig Albernaz mentioned the umpires had advised him it was as a result of there wasn’t sufficient of a tag try by Henderson.
“I believe if you stick your glove out to tag any individual, that’s an tried tag,” Albernaz mentioned following the sport. “There’s no rule about how far it’s important to lengthen your arm to tag any individual.”
