Despite the MLB’s existence since 1903, baseball always seems to have something new happening every day. Here’s one you don’t see often, if ever.
This time, it’s the Chicago White Sox who benefit from one of the strangest game endings you will ever see.
It all took place on Saturday afternoon with the White Sox playing host to their AL Central rival Detroit Tigers in the second matchup of a three-game series. Both teams were struggling to find their groove at the plate, leading to the game stretching to extra innings, with the score tied at one run apiece.
Tigers reliever Jose Cisnero was called upon to handle the 10th inning. White Sox infielder Romy Gonzalez led off the inning with a sacrifice to move Yoan Moncada, who started at second base due to the ‘Ghost Runner’ rule, to third base. Gavin Sheets was then intentionally walked despite the Tigers already having two outs.
Then Jake Burger was hit by a pitch, loading up the bases for the Sox with two-time All-Star Tim Anderson stepping to the plate. On the very first pitch of the at-bat, Cisnero’s aim ran high, much higher than catcher Eric Haase was expecting.
Unfortunately, Cisnero’s pitch came nowhere close to its target, and it drilled home plate umpire Cory Blaser right in the facemask area with a 96 mph four-seam fastball. Here’s the torturous clip where Blaser understandably hit the deck following the impact.
Haase was unable to find the loose ball in the madness, leading to Moncada easily coming around to score for the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning.
The umpire, Blaser, is undergoing a medical evaluation. MLB will reveal the status of their umpire as soon as they become available.
What’s amazing about this outcome is that none of the three runs scored came off a hit. Each runner who crossed the plate did so because of a wild pitch. So I guess it’s only fitting that a wild pitch capped off a wild afternoon.
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