Confusing call in seventh inning gives Red Sox run in 2-1 loss to Blue Jays
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TORONTO — There were 42,511 fans plus both teams, Major League Baseball officials, and ballpark staff at Rogers Centre on Monday and all of them were confused by one play in the seventh inning of the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox.
With two outs briefly appearing on the scoreboard, Boston outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela popped out to Blue Jays centre-fielder Brett Bateman, leading the Red Sox to believe the inning was over. However, Bateman correctly understood there was actually only one out and threw to first base, doubling off Boston shortstop Nick Sogard who had failed to tag up after the catch, to end the inning.
Because he thought the pop out to Bateman was going to end the top of the seventh, Red Sox second baseman Anthony Seigler ran home without tagging up at third. Home plate umpire Charlie Ramos initially waved off Seigler’s run, but after a lengthy review with MLB officials in New York City between the top and bottom of the inning, it was ruled in Boston’s favour, cutting Toronto’s lead to 2-1.
“That’s a timed play, meaning it’s not a force play. If it’s a force play, the run does not score automatically,” crew chief Chris Guccione told a pool reporter after the game. “If it’s a timed play, meaning ‘was the out made before or after the runner crossed home plate?’
