Referee provides explanation for wild play in St. Louis Cardinals-Chicago Cubs game



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CHICAGO – Referee Bill Miller provided an explanation on Monday for a savage streak in St. Louis ‘4-2 win over the Chicago Cubs that added another layer of drama to the Cardinals’ 16th straight win.

A request for an explanation was made after Sunday’s game, but a Cubs spokesperson said it was denied. Miller said there was a communication problem with the attendant and the request was never forwarded to the referees.

The play came after St. Louis reliever Giovanny Gallegos walked pinch hitter Austin Romine and Rafael Ortega with a ninth putout.

Frank Schwindel then appeared and third baseman Gabe Morales called him because of the inside fly rule. But third baseman Nolan Arenado slipped trying to catch the ball, and the runners took off when he landed in the grass of the infield.

Arenado threw Paul DeJong to shortstop covering third place, and DeJong threw second for what the Cardinals thought was a game-ending double play. But there is no override when the internal flight rule is called.

Ortega started second and was hit by second baseman Tommy Edman, but was put back on base.

“They throw the ball to second base and that’s where the confusing part comes in,” said Miller, the team manager who worked at plate Sunday. “Second base umpire Doug Eddings didn’t realize an inside ball was called, so they threw the ball to second base, he called this guy, Ortega. he called him on a forced play.

“Ortega thinks he’s out, the game is over, whatever it is, leave the base. And now (Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt) yells at whoever touches the runner, and so before that runner does not get marked, Doug says ‘Timeout, time out,’ because he knows the runner left base because he called him back. “

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt then walked out onto the pitch to argue and was sent off by Miller.

“Then the argument from Shildt was that he didn’t understand that Doug called him on a forced play, so he thought Doug called the time prematurely so he couldn’t be touched,” Miller said. “He didn’t realize he left the base because Doug called him.”

Speaking after the win, Shildt called it a question of timing.

“The timing was not on our side,” said Shildt. “They clearly objected to it. They were okay with it, for the most part.”

The decision left the Cubs with runners in second and third with two strikeouts. But Gallegos struck out Ian Happ to close the win.

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