Major League Baseball's new rules on home-plate collisions and instant replay allowed Philadelphia's Ryan Howard to pull off a curious play. He scored a run without even touching home plate.
Standing on first base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Howard started running to second when Phillies batter Marlon Byrd hit a pop fly to shallow right field. It should have been an routine out to end the inning, but Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Didi Gregious dropped the ball. With the score tied at 2-2, Howard rounded third base and tried to give Philadelphia the lead. Diamondbacks center fielder Ender Inciarte fielded the ball and threw a laser to catcher Miguel Montero. The throw clearly beat the slow-moving Howard, who tried to step around Montero but was easily tagged out.
But the Phillies began to argue that Montero was illegally blocking the plate. Part of experimental rule 7.13 says, via MLB.com: "The catcher may not block the pathway of a runner attempting to score unless he has possession of the ball. If the catcher blocks the runner before he has the ball, the umpire may call the runner safe."
Although a reviewed play cannot be challenged, D-Backs manager Kirk Gibson still came out to argue the call to no avail.
Philadelphia went on to win 4-2.
Meh, it's the Fillies, they need all the help they can get these days.
ReplyDelete