Yankees fans sound off on umpires, Junior Valentine after controversial overturned call takes away run vs. Red Sox

Nick Brinkerhoff

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Yankees fans sound off on umpires, Junior Valentine after controversial overturned call takes away run vs. Red Sox image

The Yankees just can't buy a win. And for a team that used to flex its financial muscle, that is a problem.

On Sunday at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers were stuck in yet another battle with their longtime rivals, the Boston Red Sox. It's been a struggle all season for the Yankees against their enemies from Beantown, losing eight of nine this season — including Sunday's game, 6-5. 

So, defeating the Red Sox has been difficult. Having to beat them and the umpires might as well be impossible. 

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Locked in a 5-5 game in the bottom of the 8th, New York was unlucky once again. Anthony Volpe, who already tied the game earlier with a three-run homer, laced one into left field for a base hit. The seemingly harmless, routine hit proved to be difficult for left fielder Rob Refsnyder to play as he slipped in the field. 

The Yankees' Isiah Kiner-Falefa made it safely to third, but took off toward home after the outfield stumble. Refsnyder came up firing, but it was too little, too late. Kiner-Falefa gave the Yankees the lead.

Or so we thought. 

Following lengthy reviews, the umpires determined Connor Wong got the tag down in time for the out. Despite the dust from the dirt clouding the view on replay from just about every angle available, MLB was able to determine that Kiner-Falefa was out. 

Considering the nature of the play, it was only natural for New York to fire back with a challenge of their own — claiming that Wong blocked the plate. With the ball arriving late, it was a logical conclusion.

Unfortunately for Aaron Boone's club, that too didn't go in their favor. 

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The crew that handled the action at Yankee Stadium didn't draw rave reviews from fans today. Junior Valentine, the home plate umpire, was the subject of criticism all afternoon thanks to his inconsistent strike zone.

Umpires at home, in the stadium and on social media were quick to give their takes. And even the most die-hard of Red Sox fans seemed to agree that the Yankees had been hosed by the overturned call.

That call ended up being costly in the contest. The Red Sox won the game by a single run after Justin Turner hit an RBI double in the top of the ninth. The Yankees couldn't answer in the ninth, sealing their defeat.

Making matters worse, the loss was New York's eighth consecutively, marking their longest losing streak in 28 years.

Nick Brinkerhoff

Nick Brinkerhoff Photo

Nick Brinkerhoff is a content producer at The Sporting News covering the NFL, NBA and other sports. A proud New Jerseyan, Nick is also a graduate of Rutgers University. He is always in the mood for a good joke, the day’s best bets, or a debate about the mediocrity of the New York sports scene.