The scene brought back memories of the 2007 playoff games between the Indians and New York Yankees.
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“At some point, it would be nice to mix in a starter that goes past the fifth; that would be good”, said Hinch, who has made 14 pitching changes in the first three games of the series. Though his eyes were free of bugs, Carrasco gave up a single to Yulieski Gurriel and a two-run home run to Colby Rasmus within his next three pitches, which gave the Astros a 3-2 lead.
Instead of going to get the ball and “playing to the whistle”, Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro chose to stand around and argue that the ball did, in fact, go off Lonnie’s bat.
People in baseball widely consider Jim Joyce one of Major League Baseball’s best umpires, but when he gets one wrong, he really gets it wrong.
While dumbfounded Astros catcher Jason Castro petitioned to Joyce, Indians baserunners Francisco Lindor and Mike Napoli took advantage of the confusion and came around for a 4-1 lead.
This time it was Carrasco, and not then-Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain, who had to fight them off. Carrasco, first baseman Mike Napoli, third baseman Jose Ramirez and others repeatedly swatted bugs away from their faces, neck and arms. Chisenhall checked his swing, but the ball appeared to hit his bat and ricochet toward the on-deck circle. “If any of them had it hitting the bat, I would have turned around and called a foul ball”.
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer and Carlos Santana (41) collide on a pop out to the pitcher by Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve during the fifth inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016, in Cleveland.
In 2010, Joyce was the first-base umpire who incorrectly called a runner safe, denying the Tigers’ Armando Galarraga the final out that would have given him a ideal game. For the second time in seven starts since the trade, Nova tossed a complete game in a 4-1 victory over the Reds. “It was a pretty disappointing call for us”.
Indians manager Terry Francona said his players did the right thing.
“I will be looking at it tonight, you can bank on that”, he said.
Jim Joyce apparently agreed because he randomly stopped play, despite no one picking up the ball.
Lindor was 3 for 4 for his 23rd three-hit game, a major league high. Cody Allen tossed a ideal ninth for his 26th save.
“You could tell by everyone’s reaction that it was a foul ball”.
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Astros: SS Carlos Correa (left shoulder inflammation) returned to Houston for additional medical tests Wednesday. One of those teams is Detroit, which sends AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner Michael Fulmer (10-6, 2.77 ERA) to the mound to counter Kevin Gausman (7-10, 3.58), who’s been the most consistent pitcher amid the Orioles’ recent rotational shakes.
