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June 15 (UPI) — Manager Dave Martinez’s frustration over a missed call during the Washington Nationals’ loss to the Houston Astros prompted him to create a postgame outburst by printing a photo of the play, holding the officials responsible for the defeat.
The incident took place during a news conference in Houston on Wednesday. The Astros secured a 5-4 victory over the Nationals, with the winning run scored after a throw struck center fielder Jake Meyers’ helmet as he approached first base.
“I can’t do anything about those umpires,” Martinez expressed. “They need to review that and understand that he [home plate umpire Jeremy Riggs] made an error on that play.”
Martinez may face a fine for his comments.
With the bases loaded and the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the final inning, Meyers stood at bat. He hit a 2-2 fastball from Nationals relief pitcher Hunter Harvey towards shortstop C.J. Abrams, who threw to catcher Kiebert Ruiz in an attempt to eliminate Kyle Tucker at home.
Ruiz then threw towards first base, unintentionally striking Meyers, who was running within the baseline, in the helmet. The ball deflected into the outfield, allowing first baseman Jose Abreu to score the game-winning run. Ruiz was charged with an error.
According to the rules of Major League Baseball, a batter is declared out if, while running the last half of the distance from home to first base, the ball is being thrown and the batter runs to the left of the foul line, interfering with the fielder receiving the throw to first base.
Martinez was prompted to address the play during his postgame news conference. He presented a printed image that displayed Meyers running on the grass to the left of the line during the latter half of his run to first base.
“I’m exhausted by this play, to be honest,” Martinez declared. “They need to rectify the rule. If this is what the umpire saw, that Meyers was running down the line, I’m tired of it. Fix it. We lost the game and [Riggs] had no response because he could not make the correct call. Devastating.
“He stated that he saw Meyers running down the line. I expressed, ‘We lost the game because you made the wrong call.'”
The Nationals trailed 4-0 after four innings. They managed to score once in the fifth and added three runs in the top of the ninth to tie the game.
In the victory, Abreu went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Nationals first baseman Dominic Smith contributed with a 2-for-4 performance, including an RBI triple.
The controversial call on Wednesday resembled a ruling during Game 6 of the 2019 World Series, where the Nationals triumphed over the Astros to level the series 3-3.
In the top of the seventh inning of the said World Series game, with the Nationals leading 3-2, then-Nationals shortstop Trea Turner hit a dribbler into the left side of the infield and was hit by a throw as he made his way to first base. Though runners initially advanced to second and third, Turner was called out for interference.
Martinez, who was managing the Nationals during that game, disputed the call and was subsequently ejected. The Nationals went on to win the game 7-2, followed by a decisive 6-2 triumph in Game 7 the next day to secure the championship.
With a 26-40 record, the 2023 Nationals currently hold the worst record in the National League and the third-worst record in baseball. They have gone 2-8 in their last 10 games and 1-8 in their last nine.
The Nationals will face off against the Astros (39-29) in the series finale at 8:10 p.m. EDT on Thursday in Houston.
