Major League Baseball has done at least one thing right in regards to replay and that’s instituting reviews of home run calls. Tonight that system failed as Oakland Athletics outfielder Chris Young hit a walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Angels.
The original call on the field a triple. A’s manager Bob Melvin went out to ask for a replay and after a short discussion the umpiring crew obliged him. One thing that was clear the ball changed direction on its flight down meaning that it hit the O.Co sign, which is beyond the field of play making the ball hit by Young a home run.
Unfortunately the umpires didn’t see it that way and the ruling of a triple stood. Brett Anderson who didn’t get the start due to his struggles and an ankle injury eventually wound up in the game in the 13th and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. More controversy came when Kerwin Danley who is most famous for botching the Derek Jeter “flip play” call, called two pitches that at least one a strike, balls with the bases loaded.
It gave the Angels an 8-7 lead, yet it got even more interesting when Jerome Williams had two strikes also called balls leading to a walk by Derek Norris to put runners on first and second. Young hit into the double play and appeared to suffer an injury forcing designated hitter Seth Smith into the game on defense.
With a runner on second, Adam Rosales came up with the clutch hit driving in Norris to tie the game. Nate Freiman who entered the game after Coco Crisp left with an injury looked to have struck out on a slider right down the heart of the plate, yet catcher Chris Ianetta dropped the pitch and it also got called a ball. The at-bat ended it a shall fly out to Mike Trout to end the inning.
After giving up a single to J.B. Shuck and on his attempt to possibly reach out to grab the grounder landed wrong on his injured ankle and limped off the mound. Only reliever available in the bullpen, Jerry Blevins who came into the game to face Trout with one out. He did his job and in the bottom of the 19th with two outs and a runner on first, Brandon Moss ends the marathon game with a two-run home run.
The reigning American League Player of the Week Award winner, Josh Donaldson made a highlight reel play on defense in the top of the 19th on a ball hit by Mark Trumbo.
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