The Chicago White Sox, owners of the worst record in the MLB, innovated Thursday on the science of losing again. But to be fair, they did have some help from the referees.
Trailing 8-6 against the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago got a chance to get the win in the bottom of the ninth when Andrew Benintendi came to bat with two runners on base and one out. Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel was able to get him to pop up with a high fastball.
Benintendi was out before the ball ended up in shortstop Gunnar Henderson’s glove via the infield fly rule, which should have been the second out for the White Sox. It eventually became the third, when baserunner Andrew Vaughn was called out for interference.
Interference, with an indoor fly.
Both White Sox manager Pedro Grifol and the White Sox broadcasters had harsh words for the decision:
Replay didn’t really help explain what the referee saw. Vaughn can be seen looking up at the pop fly and slowly shuffling back to second base, his back turned to Henderson the entire time. Henderson has to take a step to his right to avoid running into an unaware Vaughn, but still reaches the ball’s destination with several seconds left.
Vaughn was confused after the match:
“So I was reading the play. I saw the pop-up. I knew it was an inside fly. I read it and started shuffling back and then he came past me on the right side. He was going to make the move, and then The referee called me out.
“I didn’t feel like he was holding back from making the play. It was a high pop-up, we all read it… My back is turned to the shortstop, I don’t know where he is.”
Under the strictest letter of the law, the play can be considered an interference with a fielder, as an infield fly is not a dead ball.
From the MLB rulebook:
“Rule 6.01(a) Interference Penalty Comment: A runner who is judged to have interfered with a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball is out, whether intentional or not.”
And later:
“[An infield fly] is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as with any catch. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it will be treated the same as any other foul.”
However they got there, it’s another loss for the White Sox, who are now 15-36 in a season with few expectations.
