The Los Angeles Dodgers had a Cody Bellinger home run taken away due to a miscue on the basepaths, and on Tuesday benefitted from a blunder by rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes in the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hayes appeared to hit what was a solo home run off Walker Buehler with one out in the first inning as his slicing fly ball carried over the high wall in right field at PNC Park. Hayes’ fly ball not only just cleared the fence but hit off the base of the foul pole.
He initially broke out of the box like it would remain in play before breaking into a home run trot. Meanwhile, the Dodgers threw the ball to Max Muncy and had him step on first base before challenging the homer.
The initial belief was the challenge focused on whether the ball remained fair. However, umpires came out of the review and gestured Hayes was out.
Challenge successful ☑️👀 pic.twitter.com/SlUjc7lVNv
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 8, 2021
MLB rule 5.09(c)(2) states, “Batter hits ball out of park or ground rule double and misses first base (ball is dead) — he may return to first base to correct his mistake before he touches second but if he touches second he may not return to first and if defensive team appeals he is declared out at first.”
The overturned home run was changed to a fly out that went Buehler to Muncy in the box score. Buehler wound up completing a perfect first inning on just eight pitches.
The Pirates previously had an embarrassing moment at first base when Will Craig chased the Chicago Cubs’ Javier Baez back toward home plate on a play that wound up scoring a run on what should have been a routine grounder to third base that ended the inning.
Dodgers welcoming back Gonsolin
The Dodgers will activate Tony Gonsolin off the 60-day injured list for a start Wednesday. Gonsolin is making his 2021 debut and slotting into the rotation as the fifth starter.
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