The Toronto Blue Jays made the most of their successful challenge in the first inning against Texas Rangers on Friday night.
Trailing 1-0, Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen appeared to hit into an inning-ending double play. But an eagle-eye challenge showed that Rangers shortstop Corey Seager‘s foot did not actually touch second base.
After review, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer returned to second and third base, respectively, and Toronto’s offence went to work.
First up was Spencer Horwitz, who plated two runs with a double that nearly left the park. The next batter, Ernie Clement, drove in Horwitz with a double of his own to extend the lead to 3-1.
Davis Schneider grounded out to, who else, Seager to end the inning but the damage had already been done. A successful challenge in more ways than one.
In a thrilling turn of events during a recent game, the Toronto Blue Jays were able to score three runs following a successful challenge that extended the inning. This play not only showcased the importance of utilizing instant replay in baseball, but also demonstrated the impact that a well-timed challenge can have on the outcome of a game.
The play in question occurred in the bottom of the fifth inning with the Blue Jays trailing by two runs. With runners on first and second, a ground ball was hit to the shortstop who made a diving stop and threw to second base for what appeared to be a double play. However, upon further review, it was determined that the second baseman had missed the bag while attempting to turn the double play.
After the successful challenge, the Blue Jays were able to load the bases with only one out. This set the stage for a clutch hit by their cleanup hitter, who drove in two runs with a single to left field. The next batter followed suit with an RBI double, giving the Blue Jays a 5-4 lead that they would hold onto for the rest of the game.
This sequence of events not only shifted the momentum in favor of the Blue Jays, but also highlighted the importance of utilizing instant replay in baseball. In this case, the challenge not only overturned a crucial call, but also allowed the Blue Jays to capitalize on the opportunity and score three runs in an inning that could have easily ended with no runs scored.
Overall, this play serves as a reminder of the impact that a successful challenge can have on a game and underscores the importance of teams being strategic in when and how they choose to use their challenges. In this instance, the Blue Jays made the most of their opportunity and ultimately came out on top thanks to a well-timed challenge that extended the inning and led to a game-changing rally.