LOS ANGELES — A heated argument over an umpire’s interpretation of an obstruction rule prompted Dave Roberts’ first ejection of the season and, in his thoughts, triggered the five-run sixth inning that price his Los Angeles Dodgers the sport.
“He bought it improper,” Roberts mentioned after the Dodgers’ 9-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday evening. “That is only a truth. Umpiring is difficult. They do a terrific job. Tonight, that play affected the sport.”
The Phillies trailed 4-3 when Brandon Marsh squared to bunt with none out and a runner on second within the high of the sixth. Dodgers third baseman Enrique Hernandez charged ahead to area the baseball, spun and threw to shortstop Miguel Rojas, who had sprinted to cowl the vacant base. Rojas’ glove tagged Alec Bohm’s sliding left foot earlier than he reached third base, however third-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt decided that Rojas impeded the baserunner’s progress earlier than securing the baseball. Bohm was dominated protected.
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The Phillies proceeded to take a four-run lead on a groundout, a wild pitch and a three-run homer by Kyle Schwarber, his second of three on the evening and his third of 4 in a 24-hour interval from Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers misplaced two of three to a Phillies crew that now leads them by 2 1/2 for the perfect report within the Nationwide League. In a span of 15 days, their lead within the NL West has shrunk from 8½ video games to a few, with the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks sizzling on their tails.
After the smoke had cleared, the Dodgers remained livid at Wendelstedt’s ruling. Roberts mentioned it was “an egregious missed name.”
Rojas, an 11-year veteran, claimed Wendelstedt was “seeking to be the hero.”
“I feel this man has seen this play 1,000,000 occasions, and he simply needed some a part of, I do not know, a part of a second within the sport,” Rojas mentioned. “And it is actually unhappy that it modified the entire context of the sport for us, particularly the way in which that we’re taking part in proper now, attempting to win video games. It is unlucky that an umpire can change the narrative of a sport and a collection.”
Crew chief Marvin Hudson, who was umpiring second base, spoke on Wendelstedt’s behalf after the sport and mentioned Rojas “was in entrance of the large with out the ball,” citing a brand new interpretation of the obstruction rule.
Over the offseason, Main League Baseball requested umpires to re-emphasize Rule 6.00(h) and name obstruction in the event that they decide the fielder positioned himself to impede or hinder a runner’s path to the bottom earlier than receiving the ball.
“He is bought to have the ball earlier than he can get in entrance of the bag,” Hudson mentioned. “That is the brand new rule this yr.”
Roberts famous that Bohm was supplied a lane when Rojas unfold his legs out broad upon receiving Hernandez’s throw, although Rojas’ foot did barely collide with Bohm’s as he was making use of the tag. Extra importantly, Roberts believes the decision, which isn’t reviewable, missed the spirit of the rule.
“We’re nonetheless taking part in baseball and you need to let a few of the biggest athletes on the planet make performs,” Roberts mentioned. “The rule was to discourage guys from blocking the bag to doubtlessly hurt a baserunner who’s entering into head-first. That is the genesis of the rule. Miggy’s legs are unfold broad as soon as he secured the baseball. So there’s a lane. If he was there in time. The ball beat him. There was a lane. He would not know the place the runner goes to be sliding. He is attempting to safe the baseball to then flip and make a tag. That is it. It is a baseball play.”