Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles Game Ends With Controversial Interference Call

Andrew Vaughn was called for interfering with Gunnar Henderson on an infield fly, resulting in a game-ending double play that lifted the Baltimore Orioles over the Chicago White Sox.

May 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Baltimore Orioles players celebrate after defeating the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago White Sox entered the bottom of the ninth inning down six runs to the Baltimore Orioles late Thursday night. A few RBI singles and hit-by-pitches later, the gap was suddenly down to two.

Baltimore then brought in Craig Kimbrel, their third reliever of the frame, to try and stop the bleeding.

Outfielder Andrew Benintendi stepped up to the plate with one out and two men on, representing the winning run. He didn't do much to keep the rally alive, though, popping out to shortstop Gunnar Henderson.

As Henderson made his way towards the ball, the umpires called for an infield fly. Andrew Vaughn, meanwhile, slowly made his way back to second, where he started the play.

Catcher Korey Lee was due up next, but he never got a chance to play the hero.

Instead, Vaughn got called for interfering with Henderson, resulting in a game-ending double play.

Manager Pedro Grifol came onto the field pleading his case, but crew chief Adrian Johnson was having none of it. The decision was final, as was the Orioles' 8-6 victory.

Andrew Vaughn is called for interference after an infield fly rule. An Absolutely BRUTAL call to end the game.... pic.twitter.com/AyhCWwiHeY

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 24, 2024

Naturally, baseball fans were up in arms on social media, coming to the White Sox's defense. Chicago's local broadcast team didn't pull any punches, either.

After all, Vaughn's interference shouldn't have made a difference on the play, which had been called dead anyways.

Not even two months into the 2024 regular season, umpires have made headline after headline for numerous grievous errors. According to many people online, this was up there with the worst of them.

The infield fly/interference double-play call to end the Orioles and White Sox game is, without a doubt, the worst umpire call I've seen in baseball history. Each time I watch the replay I am left more and more infuriated. MLB needs to end the continued #UmpShow mess.

— Dan Clark (@DanClarkSports) May 24, 2024

The interference call that they just made in the orioles - white Sox game might actually be the worst call I’ve ever seen and that says a LOT with how bad the @MLB umpire situation is

— Nick #LFGM (@nicocongi) May 24, 2024

This White Sox - Orioles ending is insane. There’s no reason to call interference on an infield fly even if there WAS interference. Much less if there’s none! But props to the White Sox broadcast, “I’ve got nothing left to say, I don’t wanna get fired, good night”

— J (@JZThrashNole) May 24, 2024

UMP SHOW: White Sox-Orioles Game Ends On The Dumbest Interference Call You'll Ever See @BarstoolHubbs https://t.co/AGZ3fWG1xw pic.twitter.com/BB3eZ3wPnQ

— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) May 24, 2024

The White Sox dropped to 15-36 with the loss, while the Orioles improved to 30-18. The two foes will face off another three times this weekend, starting with a Friday night matchup that gets going at 7:40 p.m. ET.

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