MLB Fans Couldn't Believe The Strike Zone in Game 3 of the World Series
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The Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night 3-1.
With the win, the Rangers are now just two wins away from the organization's first World Series title. The Diamondbacks are two losses away from elimination.
Corey Seager hit a two-run homer in the win and Jon Gray delivered a gutsy performance in relief of an injured Max Scherzer, but unfortunately, MLB fans were talking about more than just the play on the field after the game.
They were talking about the home plate umpiring of Alfonso Marquez. While fans will always disagree with some calls over the course of a game, Marquez really had fans worked up in the bottom of the ninth inning.
With the Diamondbacks trailing 3-1, leadoff hitter Gabriel Moreno stepped to the plate. The 1-0 pitch from closer Jose Leclerc was a slider on the outer edge. It was clearly a strike, but it was called a ball. Then, on 3-1, Leclerc threw a slider way off the plate that was inexplicably called a strike.
Had Moreno walked, the D'Backs would have had the tying run at the plate with no one out. You can watch the two pitches in question below:
🤔 pic.twitter.com/rm2JRWqZF7
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 31, 2023
Here are some of the reactions from fans/insiders as well.
Jack Sommers of FanNation's Diamondbacks page:
Apparently Alfonso Marquez things the strike zone is only the middle row. This is ridiculous. He ranks 65th out of 86 umps with 10 more games called in average accuracy. Do better #MLB
Apparently Alfonso Marquez things the strike zone is only the middle row.
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) October 31, 2023
This is ridiculous. He ranks 65th out of 86 umps with 10 more games called in average accuracy. Do better #MLB pic.twitter.com/HByhhaJn1d
Braves Insider Grant McAuley:
The strike zone is just a suggestion.
The strike zone is just a suggestion.
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) October 31, 2023
Jeff Passan of ESPN:
There have been a couple of exceptionally bad ball-strike calls tonight. One in the ninth inning of a 3-1 game that makes the difference between a walk and an eventual groundout is just not acceptable.
There have been a couple of exceptionally bad ball-strike calls tonight. One in the ninth inning of a 3-1 game that makes the difference between a walk and an eventual groundout is just not acceptable.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 31, 2023
Game 4 of the series is Tuesday night at 8:03 p.m. ET.
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