The end of Friday night’s game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Minnesota Twins was equal parts exciting and controversial.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Ketel Marte came to the plate with runners on the corners. Alek Thomas stole second base on the 0-2 pitch from Minnesota’s Jhoan Durán. That put the winning run in scoring position. Marte took the next two pitches, including a close 2-2 pitch. With an open first base, Durán didn’t have to challenge Marte — and didn’t. Durán’s 3-2 pitch appeared to be well outside of the strike zone.
Only, it was good enough for umpire Vic Carapazza, who rang up Marte to end the game.
Vic Carapazza rings up Ketel Marte on a 3-2 pitch, giving the Twins a 3-2 win over the Diamondbacks.
Was it the right call? You be the judge. pic.twitter.com/oSjySRh5t1
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 5, 2023
Minnesota and Arizona are both postseason contenders. Carapazza has also been at the center of some controversies this season.
So given the game’s significance and the umpire involved, fans had a lot to say about the controversial final pitch.
Pitch no. 5 was ball 3 to Ketel Marte. Pitch no. 6 was strike three called, ending the game. pic.twitter.com/Rwv40SKDP3
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) August 5, 2023
https://t.co/1iq9eoFHNe pic.twitter.com/CSOrdiaBt1
— 🎙Bauer – 🧵: @BauerOnTheMic (@BauerOnTheMic) August 5, 2023
The home plate ball-strike calling continues to sway the outcomes if games…Carapazza just jammed Ketel Marte & the Diamondbacks
— Rob Veno Sports (@robvenosports) August 5, 2023
Duran gets a call to strike out Ketel Marte and Twins survive 3-2. Umpire (correctly) called a ball on the fifth pitch. The sixth pitch was even further outside and he called it a strike to end the game. Rough night behind the plate.
— Brian Hall (@MNBrianHall) August 5, 2023
Marte isn’t blameless in this. There’s something to be said for protecting the plate, especially with two strikes and the tying and go-ahead runs on base. The problem, though is that Carapazza had already established that as a ball. He did so on the previous pitch, calling Ball 3 on a pitch that was closer to the plate than this. So, in Marte’s mind, there was no reason to think that the payoff pitch should have been called a strike.
Is it why Arizona lost the game? No, it’s not the only reason, anyway. The previous hitter, Geraldo Perdomo popped up a bunt on an apparent safety squeeze attempt, squandering a golden opportunity to score a runner from third with less than two outs. And even if Carapazza had called Marte’s third strike as a ball, Minnesota still would have been ahead in the game with two outs. So, the Diamondbacks deserve plenty of blame for the loss.
That said, they’re also entitled to their frustration about the final pitch of the game.
[Photo Credit: Bally Sports North]
