It’s been some time since baseball had a major blown call controversy, but Sunday night’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves delivered. This time, it’s Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm at the center of controversy on a sacrifice fly ball that gave Philadelphia the 7-6 lead and the win.
With one out remaining in the top of the ninth, and Bohm on third, Didi Gregorius hit a short ball out to Marcell Ozuna in left field. As the ball was caught, Bohm tagged from third as Ozuna threw back home to catcher Travis d’Arnaud, causing a bang-bang play to happen at home plate, wherein Bohm was called safe.
After a lengthy review, and various angles shown, the umpires ruled Bohm safe at home, causing uproar from the fans at Truist Park and across social media.
While Bohm clearly beats out d’Arnaud’s tag, it is pretty plain to see that he doesn’t touch home plate on any of the various angles shown.
And yet! The call was made and the Phillies took the 7-6 lead, and the win. Braves manager Brian Snitker was clearly not pleased at the events that unfolded in the game-deciding play.
Social media was just as brutal, and even the Braves own Twitter account got in on the heat.
Phillies manager Joe Girardi, of course, took the viewpoint that Bohm’s toe was able to tap home plate, while Braves pitcher Drew Smyly was adamant that the third baseman was out at home.
In all likelihood, had Bohm been originally called out on the play and it had gone to review, he would have been out and the inning would have been over. In the end, however, the umpires made their decision and the baseball world was not happy about it.
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