Swing Or No Swing, Guardians Top Twins As Series Finale Ends In Controversy
The Cleveland Guardians stay red hot as they took two of three from the Minnesota Twins to win their second consecutive series. More importantly, Cleveland is very much alive in the playoff picture with one month to play in the season.
It wouldn't be a division race which looks like it could come down to the final week of the season without a little drama and controversy as the series came to a close.
The Guardians were down the entire game and never held a lead until extra innings. However, the run that tied the game is what is in question here.
Andres Gimenez stood on third as the tying run with Bo Naylor at the plate. Jhoan Duran through a wild pitch which went to the backstop allowing Gimenez to score. However, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli challenged the play to see if the pitch hit Naylor.
A HBP would have sent Bo to first and loaded up the bases, but the run would not have scored keeping Minnesota in front. The officials confirmed that the ball did not hit Naylor which meant Gimenez's run counted.
That's not the end of it though.
Naylor's bat crossed the plate as he was trying to avoid the ball headed in his direction. Of course, many Twins fans complained after the game that this was a swing and Naylor should've been out.
MLB's 184-page rulebook does not clearly define what a swing actually is. Only that it's up to the umpire's discretion to determine if the batter went around or not. However, Baseball Rules Academy defines a swing as an "attempt at a pitch, that is not a bunt." Yes, there's a lot of room for interpretation there, but Bo did not attempt to hit the ball meaning it was not a swing at the pitch based on that definition.
Cleveland would finish off the comeback in the 10th inning thanks to a three-run blast from Kole Calhoun. It's another big at-bat for the veteran outfielder who continues to play at a high level with his new team.
The Guardians now sit four games back of the Twins as the two teams meet again at the beginning of next week for the final time this season. It should be another closely fought series that could come down to fine margins such as trying to define what a swing is.
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