Braves win first overturned challenge

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves won their first challenge of the season against the Milwaukee Brewers.  Ryan Braun was initially called safe on a groundball to third baseman Chris Johnson.  Replay showed that Braun was clearly out as Johnson threw the ball across the diamond to Freddie Freeman.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez came out to argue the call and was waiting for a word from the dugout whether or not to challenge the play.  The Braves’ replay crew quickly gave him a thumbs down, indicating that the umpires got the call wrong on the field.  Gonzalez then officially challenged the play and the umpires went to their headsets to hear from the MLB replay staff in New York.

The replay took only a few seconds before the umpires took off the headset and ruled Braun out at first base.

After watching the process play out, it seems that baseball has a good formula for getting the challenged calls corrected in a timely fashion.  This play was obvious with the provided camera angle so hopefully more replays and challenges will have the same quick decision.

The play probably would not have been overturned without the use of replay as it was a bang-bang play that typically only the first base umpire has a clear view of.