Yankees decline to file protest with MLB over disputed call

NEW YORK (AP) The New York Yankees decided not to file a protest with Major League Baseball over the disputed call that led to Tuesday's season-opening loss to Houston.

With the score tied in the eighth inning, Carlos Correa reached on a dribbler that New York reliever Dellin Betances threw over first baseman Mark Teixeira as Jose Altuve scored the go-ahead run from second. Girardi argued with plate umpire Dana DeMuth that Correa should have been called out for running in fair territory.

After the umpires conferred, the safe call was upheld and Girardi played the remainder of the game under protest. DeMuth signaled the protest to the press box, and New York lost 5-3.

But on Wednesday, Girardi said the Yankees chose not to file a protest with MLB.

''Our feeling was that the rules stated that it's in the umpire's judgment if the first baseman can catch it,'' he said. ''I'm not crazy about the rule because I still think if the guy's running where he's running, Correa, it impedes the pitcher from throwing.

''So your only recourse is really to throw it and hit him in the back. And you know, maybe it's something that we have to think about in spring training working on, that you put a dummy out there and if he's in the path and on the grass, you've got to throw it and hit him, because if you try to do what Dellin did, it usually leads to what happened.''

After the game on Tuesday, DeMuth said Betances' toss was so high that in his judgment it was just a bad throw.