The Chicago White Sox, owners of the worst record in MLB, innovated the science of losing once again on Thursday. Although, to be fair, they did have some help from the referees.
Trailing 8-6 against the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago had a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth inning when Andrew Benintendi reached base with two runners on base and one out. Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel managed to get him to hit a pop-up with a high, fast ball.
Benintendi was tagged out before the ball landed in shortstop Gunnar Henderson’s glove via the infield fly rule, which should have been the second out for the White Sox. It turned out to be the third as well, when baserunner Andrew Vaughn was called for interference.
Interference, on an internal fly.
Both White Sox manager Pedro Grifol and the White Sox announcers had some harsh words for the decision:
The replay didn’t really help explain what the referee saw. Vaughn can be seen looking at the pop fly and slowly making his way back to second base, his back to Henderson the entire time. Henderson has to step to the right to avoid bumping into an unsuspecting Vaughn, but still reaches the ball’s destination with several seconds to spare.
Vaughn was confused after the game:
“So I was reading the play. I saw the pop-up. I knew it was a fly on the field. I read it and started to come back and then he kind of passed me on the right side. He went and made the play, and then the referee called me.
“I didn’t feel like he was deterred from making the play. It was a big pop-up, we were all reading it. … I’ve got my back to the shortstop, I don’t know where he is.”
By the strictest letter of the law, the play could be viewed as interfering with the defender, as a fly in the field is not a dead ball.
From the MLB rulebook:
“Rule 6.01(a) Interference Penalty Comment: A runner who is judged to have hindered a fielder who is trying to make a play on a batted ball is out, whether it was intentional or not.”
And then:
“[An infield fly] is live and runners can advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as with any fly ball. If the hit becomes a foul ball, it will be treated the same as any foul.”
Either way, it’s another loss for the White Sox, who are now 15-36 in a season with low expectations.
