BOSTON, Ma. (SNN-TV) – Sunday night the Rays were in Boston looking for a leg up in their ALDS match-up with the Red Sox, but unfortunately, it didn’t go the way they’d hoped.
This Game 3 might have had one of the wildest endings in postseason history.
The two teams had battled back and forth for more than five hours, with the Rays’ Wander Franco and Randy Arozarena leading a comeback in the eighth inning to help send the game into extras.
In the top of the 13th inning, Yandy Diaz was on first base for the Rays with two outs and was running when Kevin Kiermaier lined a 3-2 slider from Nick Pivetta off the base of the low wall in front of the bullpens in right-center field. The ball bounced back onto the warning track, off Hunter Renfroe’s leg and over the wall into the bullpens.
Diaz was already a step from third base and would have scored easily if the ball remained in play, but after an umpire review, he was sent back to third base and Kiermaier to second.
In the bottom of the 13th, Luis Patino walked Renfroe, and then Christian Vazquez walked it off with a home run over the Green Monster, the sixth walk-off homer in postseason history in the 13th inning or later.
The Red Sox won 6-4, and they lead the series 2-1.
Now for those wondering, MLB 5.05 (A) (8) explains the reasoning behind why Kevin Kiermaier was held at 2nd, and why Yandy Diaz did not score.
“Any bounding fair ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over or under a fence on fair or foul territory, in which case the batter and all runners shall be entitled to advance two bases.”
Which in layman’s terms means, Boston’s Hunter Renfroe unintentionally knocked the ball out of play, keeping both Diaz and Kiermaier subjected to two bases advanced a piece.
The general consensus: The umpires got the call right, but it still feels wrong, being that Diaz would’ve scored standing up.
Nevertheless, the Rays look to fend off the Red Sox in a series clinching game for Boston. Game 4’s first pitch is set for 7:07 tonight from Fenway Park.