Controversial review costs Tigers a run in the second
Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was so sure that Andrew Romine was safe at first base during the second inning of game three of the American League Division Series against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, that he used and consequently lost his only replay challenge of the game.
Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop (6) flips the ball to first baseman Steve Pearce (28) for the force out on Detroit Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine (27) (not pictured) during the second inning in game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Avila was on third base with two outs in the inning. Romine dropped a bunt out to second baseman Jonathan Schoop. Schoop scooped up the ball and tossed the ball from his glove in one fluid motion to first baseman Steve Pearce.
Pearce caught the ball at almost the exact moment that Romine’s foot touched the base and Avila was scoring from third. The ruling on the field was that Romine was out.
The call was so close that from different angles it appeared that Romine was safe or may have been out. The on-air announcers seemed to come to the consensus that he should have been called safe because there wasn’t definitive proof that the ball was fully in the glove of Pearce when Romine stepped on the bag.
At one point one of the on-air announcers said that if the rule “tie goes to the runner” actually existed that this would be the case for it.
However, while there was not definitive proof that the ball was completely inside Pearce’s glove, there was also no evidence that it wasn’t.
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Ultimately, the umpires in New York had to go with the on the field ruling as there wasn’t sufficient evidence to overturn it. Romine was the third out of the inning and starting pitcher David Price was denied a run that he and the Tigers so desperately need.
This is an elimination game for Detroit in the best of five series as their bullpenn has imploded in both games one and two, allowing the Orioles precious momentum.
The game is currently on it’s way into the fifth inning, still scoreless. Orioles starter Bud Norris is matching Price frame for frame. If the Tigers plan to make it out of this game with their season still intact Price may just have to pitch a complete game shutout.