Blown Calls in the 2010 Postseason

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 8, 2010

Blown Calls in the 2010 Postseason

Yankees-Twins: Game 2 ALDS

With the score even 2-2 in the top of the seventh inning, Twins pitcher Carl Pavano unleashed a cut fastball that seemed to catch the inside corner of the plate to strike out Lance Berkman. Home-plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt didn't think so, however, ruling the pitch a ball to keep Berkman's at-bat alive. That would prove costly for the Twins, as Berkman drove Pavano's next pitch into the left-center field gap, plating Jorge Posada to give New York a 3-2 lead. The Yankees never would relinquish the advantage, going on to win 5-2.

Braves-Giants: Game 1 NLDS

Buster Posey hadn't stolen a base all season for the Giants prior to his fourth-inning swipe of second during Game 1 of the NLDS. The problem was, it probably shouldn't have held up. Replays showed Braves second baseman Brooks Conrad's tag beat Posey by a fraction of a second, which would have cleared the bases with two outs. Posey later rounded scored on Cody Ross' RBI single. The controversial run was all San Francisco starter Tim Lincecum would need; he pitched a sparkling complete-game shutout to give the Giants a 1-0 win.

Yankees-Twins: Game 1 ALDS

Greg Golson made a shoestring catch on Delmon Young's line drive Wednesday at Target Field, apparently securing the out -- and the victory -- for the Yankees in Game 1 of the 2010 ALDS. It wasn't called that way. After a brief conference, the umpiring crew ruled the ball skipped into Golson's glove, giving Twins slugger Jim Thome an opportunity to tie the score. Rivera induced a game-ending pop out, quelling any outrage that could have resulted from the blown call.

Rangers-Rays: Game 2 ALDS

After rolling to a 5-1 victory in Game 1, Texas jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Game 2. It seemed ready to stay that way after Michael Young apparently went around on a check swing for strike three, and the second out. He made Chad Qualls and the Rays pay on the next pitch, blasting a towering, three-run homer to center, giving the Rangers a commanding five-run lead en route to a 6-0 victory.

Rangers-Rays: Game 1 ALDS

Rangers pitcher Cliff Lee dug himself into a first-inning jam in Game 1 against Tampa Bay, loading the bases with only one out. With Carlos Pena at the plate, Lee's 2-1 pitch sailed a little far inside, apparently grazing the Rays first baseman. Umpire Tim Welke ruled it a foul ball. Instead of a 1-0 Tampa Bay lead with the bases still loaded, Pena went on to strike out, and then Rocco Baldelli followed with another K, allowing Lee and the Rangers to escape the threat. The Rays never had another chance; Texas cruised to a 5-1 victory.