Reds get majorly hosed by winning a challenge that leads directly to a Guardians grand slam
With challenges becoming a bigger and bigger part of more sports, including Major League Baseball, we're going to see lots and lots of ways that they can backfire.
However, you'll be hard-pressed to find a way that hoses the team that won the challenge more than what happened on Tuesday to the Cincinnati Reds.
Tuesday saw the two Ohio-based teams meeting for a day-night doubleheader, and it was in the first game that the Reds had a big challenge win, followed by a big loss.
In the top of the first inning, the Guardians managed to load the bases with Kyle Manzardo at the plate.
With a 1-2 count, Manzardo took a pitch from Reds righty Chase Burns high and inside.
It was certainly in on his forearms, and Manzardo did his best to let the home plate umpire know that the pitch clipped him.
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It was ruled that he had been hit by a pitch, which brought in a run.
However, the Reds challenged and won, so the at-bat resumed with Manzardo facing a 2-2 count.
He fouled off one pitch and then blasted the next into the outfield bleachers for a grand slam that wouldn't have ever happened just a few years ago.
I'll be honest: I'm just shocked this sort of thing didn't happen to the Mets.
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First of all, top-notch acting from Manzardo on that one. I thought it did hit him in real time, but when you slow it down, it wasn't even close. He'd have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for video review.
But then, what are the odds that the Reds feel like they had another chance to end the inning, and Manzardo does the worst possible thing in that situation and goes yard?
What's worse is that the Reds did manage to battle back, but that early grand slam was the difference-maker. The Guardians took the first game of the doubleheader 6-5.
