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 The Cincinnati Reds, the beneficiaries of the decision, obviously
disagreed.
The end result was that Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run single to cap a
highly controversial eighth inning as Cincinnati rallied to defeat
Miami 3-1 Thursday night at Marlins Park.
The Reds, who lost 10 of their previous 12 games, got back to .500
at 54-54.
Miami (53-55) lost its second consecutive game after winning six in
a row.
Trailing 1-0, Cincinnati loaded the bases with no outs in the
eighth. Marlins reliever Bryan Morris, who inherited the jam, seemed
to get out of it with a strikeout and an apparent double play on a
fly out to right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who threw out shortstop
Zack Cozart at the plate with a strong one-hop throw.
However, after a long review -- six minutes and 10 seconds -- the
umpires reversed the call, ruling that catcher Jeff Mathis
improperly blocked Cozart's path to the plate.
"I really felt they got the call right," Reds manager Bryan Price
said of the umpires' reversal. "The throw beat our guy by a fairly
reasonable margin, but the catcher had taken away the entire plate.
"I felt from the inception of the play, (Mathis) got his left foot
on the other side of home plate. He could have a disagreement, and I
would understand. That play would frustrate anybody. And he'd had
every right to be angry."
Marlins manager Mike Redmond was certainly angry. He was ejected in
the ensuing argument.
"As a former catcher in this league for 13 years, as a grinder who
loves and respects this game ... to lose a game on that play is a
joke," Redmond said. "That guy was out by 15 feet. ...
"Those guys in New York (who reviewed the call) decided the game. I
don't blame (plate umpire) Mike Winters. He knew the call on the
field was right, and he told me when I went out there."
Reds catcher Brayan Pena said he and the others who play his
position need to change their mindset due to the new rule.
"Your nature (as a catcher) is to protect home plate," he said. "But
now you have to have in the back of your mind that if you block home
plate too early, they are going to return that play. It doesn't
matter how good of a throw it is -- we have to understand the rule."
After the controversy, Ludwick, the Reds' right fielder, stroked a
single to center to give Cincinnati the lead.
Cincinnati All-Star right-hander Johnny Cueto (12-6) allowed four
hits, one walk and one run in seven innings. He struck out nine.
Reliever Jonathan Broxton pitched the eighth, getting out of a
two-on jam by striking out Stanton with two outs. It was the 600th
career strikeout for Broxton.
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Closer Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth for his 24th save.
With two outs in the inning, Chapman felt his hamstring tighten up
and took two practice throws before continuing. His final pitch of
the game was a 101 mph fastball that struck out center fielder
Marcell Ozuna.
Tom Koehler (7-8) took the hard-luck loss, allowing five hits,
two walks and two runs, both unearned.
Miami jumped opened the scoring in the first inning on a solo homer
to left by Stanton. It was his 25th homer of the season, which tied
him for the National League lead with Chicago Cubs first baseman
Anthony Rizzo. Stanton leads the NL with 73 RBIs.
The Marlins nearly added to their lead later in the inning. Third
baseman Casey McGehee went the other way, doubling down the right
field line. First baseman Garrett Jones then singled, but McGehee
was nailed at the plate on a strong throw by center fielder Billy
Hamilton.
Cincinnati's outfield saved another run in the fourth. Ozuna doubled
to right with two outs and would have scored on shortstop Adeiny
Hechavarria's drive to right-center. However, right fielder Chris
Heisey made a long run and a diving catch to keep the score 1-0.
No matter what, though, the Marlins felt they were robbed with the
defeat.
"It's a travesty that the game turns around because of a call no one
in baseball thinks should be made except four guys in New York,"
Marlins president David Samson said. "Everyone in baseball should be
embarrassed by a call like that."
NOTES: Miami acquired RHP Jarred Cosart, INF/OF Enrique Hernandez
and OF Austin Wates from the Houston Astros just before the trade
deadline. ... Cosart is set to start Friday, and Hernandez also will
be on the roster Friday. Wates was sent to Triple-A New Orleans.
...In the trade, Miami sent three minor-leaguers to Houston: OF Jake
Marisnick, 3B Colin Moran and RHP Francis Martes. ... The Marlins
will need to make two roster moves before Friday to clear space for
Cosart and Hernandez. Expected to head down to New Orleans are INF
Ed Lucas and LHP Dan Jennings. ... Miami will shift RHP Jacob Turner
back to the bullpen. ... The Reds didn't make any trades before the
deadline. Cincinnati should get major help when two of its stars
return from the disabled list: 2B Brandon Phillips (thumb) and 1B
Joey Votto (quadriceps). The Reds hope to have both back in late
August.
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