SAN FRANCISCO — A play at home plate in a game between the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants was overturned on review Wednesday night, the second straight day a disputed review had a significant impact on the outcome of a game.
In the fifth inning at Oracle Park, Blake Sabol of the Giants appeared to be thrown out sliding into home by a strong throw by Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. on Joc Pederson‘s two-out single to right.
Sabol was initially ruled out, but the call was challenged by San Francisco and changed following a lengthy review when umpires cited San Diego catcher Gary Sanchez for blocking the plate. Frustrated Padres manager Bob Melvin argued the call after the video review but was unsuccessful.
“The throw took (Sanchez) up the line,” Melvin said. “Based on where he started, it looked like they showed the replay from when the throw was already on the way, and as a catcher, you have to have some feel for that. You’ve got to also understand the impact and where the runner was. To me, it was just one of the worst calls I’ve seen this year.”
Sabol knew quickly that something was amiss on the play,
“I was running as hard as I could,” Sabol said. “I was trying to avoid a collision there. I feel like I didn’t even have a chance to touch (the plate). That was a big, big challenge for us.”
Mike Yastrzemski followed Pederson’s hit with an RBI liner up the middle, and J.D. Davis then lashed a single to right center for a four-run lead in a game eventually won by the Giants 4-2.
“It was a definite momentum shift,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “Obviously we came out on the good end of it. If I was on the other side, I’d probably find something to be upset about. But under the circumstances I’m good with it.”
A night earlier, Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was ejected after a call at the plate was overturned because catcher Jonah Heim was ruled to have blocked the plate illegally.
The Chicago White Sox‘s Zach Remillard singled in Elvis Andrus with the go-ahead run on a play that was overturned by video review. Andrus was initially called out at the plate by umpire D.J. Reyburn on Travis Jankowski‘s throw.
Bochy was booted for the 80th time in his career.
“For that call to be made, I’m dumbfounded,” Bochy said. “It’s absolutely one of the worst calls I’ve ever seen, and it was done by replay. I just don’t get it. I don’t care how many times they’ll try to explain it. You can’t do that in that situation. It’s a shame. It’s embarrassing, really.
“There was never any contact with the catcher. It was a sweep tag. I don’t get it. I really don’t. Again, I’m shocked. Jonah did a great job there. The throw took him to the left a little bit, sweep tag. I’m lost on this one. That’s a tough one to take.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.