Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was ejected in the 10th inning of a 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday after a controversial play on the record and a subsequent re-rating that Baldelli called “one of the worst moments we’ve ever seen designated umpires in every game I’ve ever attended in baseball.
With Caleb Theilbar on the mound for Minnesota in the top of the 10th inning, Toronto’s Cavan Biggio hit a sacrificial fly, giving Whit Merrifield the game-winning run from third base. However, Merrifield was originally called to the plate before the call was reversed when the umpire crew ruled that Twins catcher Gary Sánchez was interfering with the Blue Jays baserunner.
Replay officials felt that Sánchez did not allow Merrifield, whose leg collided with the Twins catcher’s left leg, a clear lane to reach home plate in the game. As a result, the Blue Jays took the lead in the late game and the inning continued.
After the review, an enraged Baldelli immediately emerged from the dugout and rushed over to the umpires. He threw his hat and started yelling at the crew, which was enough to get him kicked out of the ball game.
Scroll to Next
“For someone to intervene in this situation and ultimately make the decision that that blocks the plate… it’s beyond embarrassing for our game, for all the players on both sides of the field working their A-Off for the entire game.” This is totally unacceptable,” Baldelli said said in a press conference after the game.
“It’s one of the worst moments we’ve ever seen refereeing a game I’ve ever been in baseball and I think it was pathetic what just transpired.”
After Baldelli’s ejection, Toronto closer Jordan Romano finished Minnesota in the bottom half of the inning and pulled back the first three Twins batters to end the game.
The Blue Jays improved to 60-48 on the year with the win, while the Twins (57-51) saw their AL Central lead shrink to one game with the loss.
More MLB Coverage: