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The Red Sox struck out a record 20 batters because an ump screwed up a rule
Friday’s Say Hey, Baseball includes the Red Sox tying a record with some help, Dylan Bundy’s innings, and the best and worst at finding catchers.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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Before Thursday, just five teams had ever managed to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game. The Red Sox tied that record once again with a group effort on Thursday, punching out 20 Rangers en route to a 6-2 win. They managed the feat for the third time in their history thanks to an umpire screwup.
We’re not talking your basic generous strike zone mishap or anything like that, either. Chad Fairchild, home plate umpire, missed strike three from Craig Kimbrel hitting Nomar Mazara in the top of the ninth. Swinging at a hit by pitch on strike three is an automatic out, but Fairchild called it a wild pitch and then said the play was non-reviewable when Red Sox manager John Farrell attempted to challenge. The play that actually happened is reviewable; however, the play Fairchild thought happened is not.
So Kimbrel got credit for four strikeouts instead of three in the inning, giving the combined effort of Drew Pomeranz (11 K), Heath Hembree (2 K), Robby Scott (1 K), Matt Barnes (2 K), and Kimbrel a place in the record books.
MLB released a statement following the game confirming that the replay official should have allowed a review as Farrell requested. But on the bright side for Boston, they still won, and even managed to squeeze into the record books because of it. Surely this isn’t the first time an umpire’s mistake helped contribute to that sort of thing, and given we’re in the era of video review and this still happened, it won’t be the last time, either.
- Thanks to MLB’s video editing, you can watch all 20 Red Sox strikeouts in 20 seconds. Well, 19 seconds, really, but that would detract from the theme they have going on, so they probably don’t want you to notice they’re ripping you off a second.
- Inspired by how bad the Mariners have been at finding and developing catchers, Grant Brisbee tried to see who is best and worst in the league at that very thing.
- If you ask Matt Ellentuck, MVP Baseball 2005 is the best sports video game ever.
- It’s Memorial Day weekend, so Mike Bates wrote about the first major League player to die in a war.
- The push and pull between hitters and pitchers is changing.
- The Royals have apparently “slow played” impending free agent Eric Hosmer.
- He did it in the minors, but White Sox prospect Lucas Giolito tossed a no-hitter, and he did it against a Nationals affiliate, too.
- What are the Mets even doing?
- The Tigers are having issues with pitching, but for once, it’s not because of the back-end of their bullpen.
- Dylan Bundy is succeeding, but there’s a conversation to be had about his innings and when enough is enough for the young starter.
- The Red Sox will have David Price make his 2017 debut on Monday, so for at least a little while, they can stop worrying about rotation depth. Maybe.
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