The Baltimore Orioles held on to beat the Chicago White Sox 8-6 on Thursday night time, with the sport ending on a controversial runner interference name. The crew chief stated the umpire had no alternative however to make the decision, however MLB says that may not be the case.
With two on and one out within the backside of the ninth, Andrew Benintendi popped up. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson caught the ball — umpires had known as the infield fly rule — for the second out, then third-base umpire Junior Valentine dominated that Andrew Vaughn interfered with Henderson on the play.
After the sport, Valentine stated there is no such thing as a discretion when a baserunner seems to make incidental contact with a fielder — even when the play ends in a defensive out.
Brutal ending to this Orioles-White Sox sport. 😬
(🎥: @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/mRL319faFT
— theScore (@theScore) Might 24, 2024
“If he hinders the fielder within the try to subject a batted ball, intent will not be required and it is interference,” Valentine stated. “Once you see the interference, you name it.”
Rule 6.01(a) appears to help that: “A runner who’s adjudged to have hindered a fielder who’s trying to make a play on a batted ball is out whether or not it was intentional or not.”
Nonetheless, MLB reached out to the White Sox after the sport to say that the umpires do have discretion on that play and that interference did not need to be known as, the staff confirmed on Friday.
“We have talked to MLB,” White Sox GM Chris Getz stated. “I am going to maintain these conversations non-public. I used to be instructed it is a judgment play. There may be discretion.”
Vaughn, who was the runner at second and dominated out, stated he wasn’t anticipating the decision.
“It was a giant shock,” Vaughn stated. “I do not really feel like he was deterred from making a play. It was a excessive popup. We have been all studying it. As a runner, I’ve received to learn it and ensure I can get again to the bag.”
White Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol argued vehemently with umpires on the conclusion of the beautiful closing sequence.
“I do not like the way in which the play was known as.,” Grifol stated. “It was known as inaccurate in my view. There are completely different interpretations of the rule.
“I believe MLB will look into this play- (for the long run). Its in everybody’s greatest pursuits for there to be some readability on this play.”
Data from ESPN’s Jesse Rogers, The Related Press and Area Degree Media was used on this report.