Hunter Renfroe saved a run for the Red Sox by accidentally hip-checking the ball over the fence
An obscure ground rule double ruling gave Boston new life.
Welcome to the MLB postseason, where an obscure baseball rule has turned the tide and the momentum of a series!
On Sunday, in the 13th inning of the Tampa Bay Rays versus Boston Red Sox ALDS, baseball fans were treated to an unusual ground rule double situation. With Yandy Diaz on first for Tampa Bay, Kevin Kiermaier smacked a ball into right-center field, which bounced off the top of the wall and right into Hunter Renfroe in the outfield.
The ball then careened off of Renfroe’s accidental hip check and went over the outfield wall, causing instant chaos and confusion from the Red Sox players on the field. Diaz came around to score on the play, but after a lengthy review the umpires ruled the play a ground rule double.
The result? Diaz stayed put at third and Kiermaier went to second, with no runs scored on the play.
IVE LITERALLY NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE AND ITS IN THE BIGGEST SITUATION SO FAR THIS POSTSEASON
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) October 11, 2021
Here’s the alternate angle of the play, which gives a better look at the path the ball took off of the wall and then off of Renfroe.
WHAT IS HAPPENING pic.twitter.com/9dSKcYp20l
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 11, 2021
Baseball fans immediately were confused by the ruling, which logically makes no sense since Renfroe is an active player and isn’t a stationary part of the field. However, there is a very obscure MLB rule that covers this specific instance and states that a ball deflected by a player out of play is considered a ground rule double.
.@Ken_Rosenthal got the ruling from MLB: "A ball deflected by a player out of play is a ground-rule double. The ball retains its status as a batted ball until it's fielded cleanly by a defensive player so that is the same as if the ball had naturally bounced over the fence."
— Jen McCaffrey (@jcmccaffrey) October 11, 2021
Here it is. Rule 5.05(a)(8). It explains the ruling that put Kevin Kiermaier on second and kept Yandy Diaz on third. pic.twitter.com/aBg0fImlIg
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 11, 2021
Unfortunately for the Rays, Tampa Bay was unable to score off of the completely bizarre play and Diaz and Kiermaier were left on base to end the inning.
And of course, as sports narratives often do, we got a picture-perfect ending to the game, as Renfroe got on base and then Christian Vazquez blasted home a two-run home run to give the Red Sox the 6-4 win and the 2-1 series lead.
RED SOX WALK-OFF HR IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 13TH
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/Ib3n7VuEiL
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2021
Talk about a demoralizing end if you’re the Rays. To go from scoring the go-ahead run to having it called back due to circumstances completely out of your control, then to see the guy who caused that weird play put the dagger in you while rounding the bases? Just brutal.
In the end, the umpires got the call right as written in the rule book, but don’t be surprised if it changes due to the strange circumstances it brings about.