New rule allowed Ryan Howard to score without touching home plate (VIDEO)

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."

The umpires reviewed the play and reversed the call. Howard was ruled safe at home, giving the Phillies a 3-2 lead.

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.

Diamondbacks' pitcher and catcher combine for crazy circus catch

It's not often you get to see a pitcher and a catcher combine to make a circus catch on a routine bunt but that's exactly what happened when the Diamondbacks' Josh Collmentor and Miguel Montero did it against the Miami Marlins on Sunday.

The Arizona catcher Montero bobbled the pop-up bunt and deflected it into bare hand of relief pitcher Collmentor for an assist and the rare 2-1 put-out.

The D'backs juggling act still couldn't top that three-ring circus from Miami and Arizona lost, 2-1.

Orlando Hudson's Fan-Friendly Goof

Orlando Hudson, the four-time Gold Glove winner of the San Diego Padres, was a little too eager to please a fan and his brain freeze cost the Padres a run against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Playing second base on Tuesday night at Petco Field, Hudson called for Ryan Robert's pop-up in shallow right field.  Without breaking his stride, Hudson snagged the ball, headed towards the right field stands and flipped the ball to a ball-girl before heading to the dugout.

Major problem.  It was only the second out.

Seeing Hudson's goof, Padres first baseman, Jesus Guzman, ran to the ball girl, but it was too late, it was in the stands.

Diamondbacks Chris Young and Miguel Montero were permitted to take two bases.  Young scored to make it 4-0.

The personable Hudson laughed at the epic blunder.

"You see it every now and then," he said.  "Life goes on, nobody's perfect."

Arizona went on to win, 6-1.