TORONTO — One of the strangest plays in baseball history gave the Rangers the lead over the Blue Jays in the seventh inning of the deciding game of the American League Division Series on Wednesday. It led to a delay as Toronto fans pelted the field with garbage and prompted the Blue Jays to play the rest of the game under protest.
With two outs and Rougned Odor on third base, Toronto right-hander Aaron Sanchez threw a 1-2 pitch to Shin-Soo Choo that was called a ball. Routine, until catcher Russell Martin’s throw back to the mound bounced off Choo’s bat and rolled up the third base line.
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Odor came running in to score the go-ahead run, but as he did, home plate umpire Dale Scott was calling time, thinking it was a dead ball. Odor was sent back to third.
Fans throwing garbage on the field. pic.twitter.com/Jc5dncs4ax
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2015Then, all six umpires conferred to review the bizarre play, and ruled that Odor would be allowed to score. That’s when the fans went berserk, throwing all manner of items onto the field and screaming obscenities.
A video review ensued, and garbage continued to rain down from the stands, including full beers. There was a cheer, however, when after the run was still allowed to score, it was announced that the game would be played under protest.
The play was officially scored an error on Martin.
UPDATE: The rule in question:
Here’s the rule from the top of the inning, which hardly seems to matter now. pic.twitter.com/fKPvLZSJop
— Jesse Spector (@jessespector) October 14, 2015UPDATE 2: The Jays came back to win 6-3, so no protest will be heard.
UPDATE 3: Choo and Martin, the primary players involved, both said after the game that they were unfamiliar with the rule.