The Baltimore Orioles held on to beat the Chicago White Sox 8-6 on Thursday night, with the game ending on a controversial runner’s interference call. The crew chief said the umpire had no choice but to make the decision, but MLB says that may not be the case.
With two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Andrew Benintendi appeared. Shortstop Gunnar Henderson caught the ball — the umpires had called the infield rule — for the second out, then third base umpire Junior Valentine ruled that Andrew Vaughn had interfered with Henderson during the play.
After the game, crew chief Adrian Johnson said there was no discretion when a baserunner appears to make accidental contact with a defensive player — even if the play results in a defensive out.
Brutal end to this Orioles-White Sox match. 😬
(🎥: @NBCSWhiteSox)pic.twitter.com/mRL319faFT
– the Score (@theScore) May 24, 2024
“If he interferes with the defensive player in his attempt to field a batted ball, intent is not required and it is interference,” Johnson said. “When you see the interference, you call it.”
Rule 6.01(a) appears to hold that: “A runner judged to have interfered with a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out, whether intentional or not.” »
But a source told ESPN’s Jesse Rogers that MLB contacted the White Sox after the game to tell them the umpires had discretion on this play and there was no need to call interference.
“It was a big surprise,” said Vaughn, who was second and was left out. “I don’t feel like he was deterred from playing. It was a high pop-up. We were all reading it. As a runner, I have to read it and make sure I can get back into the bag. “.
White Sox manager Pedro Grifol argued vehemently with the umpires at the end of the stunning final sequence.
There was certainly confusion, and the play ended the rally by the White Sox, who had scored four runs in the ninth.
“I felt like we got away with it there,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said.
The White Sox, who have won just once in their last seven games, will try to gain momentum again in their seven-game homestand that began Thursday night. The Orioles ended a season-worst three-game losing streak with a win in the series opener.
Right-hander Corbin Burnes (4-2, 2.56 ERA) will start for the Orioles on Friday, seeking back-to-back wins after holding the Seattle Mariners without an earned run in six innings of Baltimore’s 6-3 win on Sunday. He struck out 11 for the second time this season.
“I’m happy with the way my stuff looks,” Burnes said. “I’m happy with the way the ball is coming out. I can’t really complain about it.”
Right-hander Chris Flexen (2-4, 5.48 ERA) will be on the mound for Chicago, trying to bounce back from Sunday’s tough outing against the New York Yankees. He allowed seven runs on eight hits in four innings in Chicago’s 7-2 loss.
“It’s just about executing pitches,” Flexen said.
In three career starts against Baltimore, Flexen is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA. The loss came in August when he was a member of the Colorado Rockies.
Information from The Associated Press and Field Level Media was used in this report.
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