MLB reached out to White Sox to explain bizarre, game-ending interference call.
Thursday’s game between the White Sox and Orioles ended on a highly questionable interference call.
Major League Baseball reached out to the White Sox regarding the controversial game-ending interference call in Thursday’s 8-6 loss to the Orioles.
ESPN insider Jesse Rogers reported Friday that the league “essentially” told the White Sox the call should not have been made.
White Sox general manager Chris Gets confirmed Friday that the team spoke with MLB, but wouldn’t disclose what was said other than that he was told the umpire’s ability to call interference, in general, is a judgement call.
“There is discretion,” Getz said.
That means the umpire wasn’t obligated to call interference on Vaughn for accidentally (not to mention barely) stepping in the shortstop’s path to the ball, but he also wasn’t technically incorrect for doing so, no matter how ticky-tacky.
And this was certainly ticky-tacky.
Down 8-2 in the final frame, the White Sox rallied for four runs in the bottom of the ninth and had an opportunity to win the game with runners on first and second with one out.
Andrew Benintendi swung for an infield pop-out, and Andrew Vaughn leisurely walked back to second base as the shortstop, Gunner Henderson, moved to make the catch. The umpire called interference on Vaughn, who unintentionally stepped in the path of Henderson.
