Yankees got screwed over on awful extra-innings strike call from umpire Rob Drake (Video)
By Mark Powell
The New York Yankees are having enough trouble winning as is, they don’t need the umpires against them as well.
The Yanks fell in extra innings to the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday afternoon, 2-1. New York’s offensive struggled mightily again, leaving many to wonder what exactly is going on in the Bronx this season. The once-mighty starting nine featuring Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, DJ LeMahieu and a host of All-Stars in the making has since faded into oblivion.
In the top of the tenth inning, the Yankees had a runner on second (per MLB extra-inning rules) to start the inning. With two outs and a 2-0 count, Rob Drake called a pitch that should have been a ball by a solid margin (over three inches) a strike, thus giving pitcher Tanner Scott new life in what should’ve been a count heavily favoring the hitter Mike Ford.
Top of the 10th with the go-ahead run on second -- Umpire Rob Drake called a strike on a pitch to Mike Ford that missed outside by 3.47 inches.
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) April 29, 2021
Instead of a 3-0 count, it went 2-1 and Ford struck out to end the inning. Orioles won in the bottom of the 10th.@Yankees v @Orioles pic.twitter.com/kzYtcepwfw
Yankees lose to the Orioles in ten innings
The Yankees would lose in the bottom of the tenth inning on a Cedric Mullens sacrifice fly — a play that was challenged by New York manager Aaron Boone, but confirmed via instant replay.
With the loss, the Yankees fell to 11-14, tied for last place in the AL East and five games behind the division-leading Boston Red Sox.
Full panic has set in for Yankees fans. We can only use the “it’s early” excuse for so long.
Next. Yankees: What in the world is Aaron Boone doing?. dark