Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, 52, is firmly pissed off. He received his first ejection of the season for protesting a call, but it didn’t stop his team from losing. It was a heartbreaking one-game defeat that left the Dodgers in first place in the division.
Roberts’ Dodgers lost 4-9 at home to the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on April 8th. The Dodgers led 4-1 after four innings, but gave up two runs in the fifth and five runs in the sixth. After taking one game of the three-game set in Philadelphia, the Dodgers finished the series with two straight losses.
The Dodgers were disappointed with the umpiring decisions. With two outs in the top of the sixth inning and a 4-3 lead, Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh laid down a push bunt toward third base. Dodgers third baseman Kike Hernandez lunged forward, caught the ball and threw to shortstop Miguel Rojas, who was covering third base.
Rojas’ glove tagged second baseman Alec Bomb’s left leg first.
It appeared to be an out, but third base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt ruled it a save. He ruled that Rojas had blocked Bomb’s run to second base before he could get to the ball as he dropped into base coverage. Rojas was called out for obstruction of the base.
However, the replay shows that Rojas did not block the base before receiving the ball. After receiving the ball, Rojas’ left foot collided with Bom’s left foot in a natural motion. It didn’t look like intentional base running.
Roberts jumped out of the dugout to protest. Rojas jumped up and down, but the call was not overturned. As Roberts continued to protest the call, umpire Wendelstedt ordered him out. It was Roberts’ 12th career ejection and first of the season.
After the game, assistant second base umpire Marvin Hudson said, “Rojas was in front of the base with no ball. He obstructed the runner. Under the new obstruction rule, he was not in front of the base with the ball, so it was obstruction of a runner.”
The play then shifted to the Phillies. 바카라사이트 추천 With runners on first and third and nobody out, the Dodgers switched pitchers from Alex Vecchia to Joe Kelly, but it didn’t work. After J.T. Realmuto’s grounder to third base scored the runner from third to tie the game at 4-4, Kelly’s offering faltered. Two walks and a wild pitch loaded the bases with two outs before giving up a three-run homer to Kyle Schwarber.
For the Dodgers, it must have felt like a blown call.
Even after the game, the Dodgers couldn”t accept the call. According to local media, including the Los Angeles Times, Roberts said, “Umpire Wendelstedt missed the call. It was a terrible call. This is probably the first time I’ve ever said that. That call changed the game. Wendelstedt is a great referee, but he got it wrong this time, and that’s the truth,” he said.
Roberts continued, “Rojas was playing defense about two feet in front of the base, and he tried to make the tag with his legs wide open. He opened up the opposing runner’s base. The purpose of the rule is to prevent an infielder from blocking a base and injuring a runner,” Roberts said, emphasizing that Rojas’ move was not intentional.
“I know the rule,” Rojas said, “I didn’t try to cover the base. He wasn’t trying to block a base, I wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. I wasn’t trying to interfere with the other player, I was just trying to make a tag,” he said. “I think the umpire made the call beforehand and did it to get attention. The referee is trying to be the hero. It’s unfortunate that one umpire changed a game and a series,” he said.
“If it wasn’t for that call, the tide would have turned in our favor and we could have finished the inning. It was a great opportunity to win the game,” Rojas said, noting that the call directly led to the loss. Roberts added: “We lost to a good team, but we’re really disappointed. We’ve got to let the best players in the world play,”
Roberts said, adding that he was frustrated with the officiating.
While there will be blown calls throughout the season, the Dodgers’ reaction to the call is not unique to their recent form. After slumping to 4-6 in their last 10 games, the second- and third-place San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West are both 8-2 and within three games of the first-place Dodgers. The Dodgers are now separated from second place by the smallest margin since April 27th. It’s hard to cut minutes when you lose a game on an unfair call at a time when one win is crucial.