Fansided

Guardians fans fuming after Terry Francona doesn’t challenge awful call

By Cody Williams

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Anthony Rizzo #48 of the New York Yankees dives to first base to get out Andres Gimenez #0 of the Cleveland Guardians during the fourth inning in game five of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 18: Anthony Rizzo #48 of the New York Yankees dives to first base to get out Andres Gimenez #0 of the Cleveland Guardians during the fourth inning in game five of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 18, 2022 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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After the Guardians fell in an early hole of their decisive Game 5 against the Yankees, fans lost it when the team didn’t challenge an obvious call.

Terry Francona couldn’t have scripted a worst start for his Cleveland Guardians in a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday afternoon of the ALDS series against the New York Yankees.

On the road in the Bronx, Francona didn’t adjust his plans to start Aaron Civale after the Monday night finale originally scheduled was postponed to Tuesday, despite Shane Bieber not having pitched since Friday. Moreover, the best arms in the bullpen were all available as well. And that proved fateful after a hit-by-pitch and walk put two runners on before Giancarlo Stanton tattooed a baseball over the right-field fence.

Each team added a run thereafter, leaving the Guardians in a 4-1 hole. And in the top of the fourth inning with two outs, Andres Gimenez created a tough play with a groundball to first but Anthony Rizzo dove to tag the bag and got the out call from the umpire.

The only problem: Gimenez wasn’t out as he beat the tag as Rizzo’s dive was short. But to make matters worse, Cleveland — a team that challenged two pretty obviously correct calls earlier in the series — decided not to challenge the play that would’ve given them a super-valuable base runner.

Guardians fans are furious after bad Andres Gimenez out call isn’t challenged

Needless to say, Guardians fans were less than thrilled and they expressed that on social media while others were quick to troll the club.

That’s just horrendous work in that moment for the Guardians. It’s one thing if the call was close, but the replay shows blatantly that it wasn’t. And even if it was closer than that, the team was down three runs in a win-or-go-home game — that’s the exact time to burn a challenge to potentially get someone on base.

Between the Civale decision and then this (among other things), Francona and the Guardians are going to have a lot of heat to face after this game.

Next. Guardians fans bash Terry Francona for starting Aaron Civale in Game 5. dark

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