Ryan McMahon on Saturday drew a bases-loaded walk on a full-count, pitch-clock violation by Kyle Finnegan, as the Colorado Rockies scored two runs in the ninth inning for an 8-7 victory over the Washington Nationals.
It was the first game decided by a pitch-clock violation in major league history. Nationals closer Finnegan leads the league with nine pitch-clock violations this season.
“I’m just trying to focus on the pitch and then location,” Finnegan said. “I thought I picked up the clock. I guess by the time I picked up and looked at the catcher and delivered the pitch, I was just a hair too late. Those situations, it just can’t happen. We deserved to win and I wasn’t able to do my job.”
Photo: AP
Colorado had four straight singles to open the ninth off Finnegan (2-4) to bring up McMahon, who fell behind 0-2. Hunter Goodman and Jake Cave singled to open the inning, and Brenton Doyle singled to tie it after fouling off two bunt attempts.
Ezequiel Tovar hit a line single to right to load the bases. Finnegan had converted 21 of his previous 23 save chances.
“You hate to see a game decided that way, but I’m happy it worked out in our favor,” McMahon said. “I’m never looking [at the clock]. I’m letting the umpire do his job. I didn’t know what was going on until the umpire said something.”
The pitch clock was adopted last year, but the time between pitches with runners on base was shortened from 20 seconds to 18 this season.
Meanwhile in California, Shohei Ohtani homered for the second straight game against his old team as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 to split the Freeway Series.
Ohtani blasted a 455-foot (138.7m), two-run shot in Friday’s 10-inning, 3-2 loss. He went even farther in the third inning on Saturday night, his 23rd homer traveling 459 feet to right for a 3-0 lead.
It was the second-longest homer at Dodger Stadium this season. Eight of the 10 longest homers belong to the Japanese two-way superstar.
“I feel like everyone’s reaction is always like: ‘Wow,’” Tyler Glasnow said. “It’s very entertaining for us.”
Ohtani has at least a run and an RBI in seven straight games, tying Reggie Smith’s Dodgers record from 1978. He is 11 for 24 with seven extra-base hits since moving to the leadoff spot earlier this month Mookie Betts broke his hand.
“The last few weeks, there hasn’t been anyone better,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It definitely doesn’t get old.”
Elsewhere, the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 5-1, the St Louis Cardinals topped the San Francisco Giants 9-4, the Chicago Cubs took down the New York Mets 8-1 and the Pittsburgh Pirates pipped the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3.
The Houston Astros outplayed the Baltimore Orioles 5-1, the Texas Rangers blanked the Kanas City Royals 6-0, the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 and the Philadelphia Phillies dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-1.
The Miami Mariners devastated the Seattle Marlins 9-0, the Minnesota Twins overpowered the Oakland Athletics 10-2, the Boston Red Sox survived the Cincinnati Reds 4-3, the San Diego Padres put down the Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 and the New York Yankees beat the Atlanta Braves 8-3.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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