Major League Baseball said the overturned decision on a controversial play at home plate in Thursday's game between the Reds and Marlins was correct.
Cincinnati's Zack Cozart was initially called out on a throw from right field, a play that would have ended the eighth inning with Miami still clinging to a 1-0 lead.
Instead, a lengthy review ensued and it was determined that Miami catcher Jeff Mathis took the throw up the third-base line and blocked Cozart's path to the plate. Cozart was ruled safe to tie the game and the Reds added two more runs in the inning to claim a highly disputed 3-1 victory.
Marlins manager Mike Redmond, a former catcher, was incensed at the call and was ejected by home plate umpire Mike Winters.
"To lose a game on that play is a joke. It's an absolute joke," Redmond said after the game.
Major League Baseball issued a statement Friday and concurred with the replay official's decision.
"The replay official judged that the catcher did not provide a lane to the runner and hindered his path to the plate without possession of the ball," the statement read. "The throw also did not force the catcher into the runner's pathway. As a result, in accordance with Rule 7.13, the ruling on the field was overturned and the run was allowed to score."
MLB also said it will continue to review the application of the new rule that was put into effect this year to help curtail home plate collisions.
"We realize that people may reasonably have different opinions regarding the application of Rule 7.13 in any particular instance because it is a judgment call," the statement continued. "We are continuously evaluating the application of the new rule, and we anticipate a full review with all appropriate parties in the offseason in order to determine whether any changes should be made. We also recognize that the exorbitant length of last night's review, which was more than three times the season average, must be avoided in the future.
"That said, the most important goal of this rule has been to eliminate dangerous collisions at home plate, and it cannot be disputed that the rule has been very effective toward achieving this purpose."
[SportsNetwork.com]
