Blown call

During Thursday night’s National League Divisional Series matchup between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego starting pitcher Yu Darvish got absolutely hosed by a terrible call from home plate umpire Chris Segal.

In the bottom of the second inning during Thursday night’s contest, Darvish was facing Dodgers third baseman, Max Muncy. Darvish threw two quick strikes to hop out to a quick lead in the count. Then, with an 0-2 count, he threw a 69-mile-per-hour breaking ball that appeared to be right down the middle of the plate in the strike zone.

Unfortunately for Darvish, Segal didn’t quite see it that way. The MLB umpire called a ball on the pitch, keeping Muncy alive and extending the at-bat.

According to ESPN’s pitch tracker, Darvish’s pitch was right in the strike zone.

Following the blown call that extended the at-bat, Muncy watch a ball and then hit two foul balls to bring the count to 2-2. Then, on the 2-2 pitch, Muncy drilled a ball to deep right field for a home run to put the Dodgers up 2-1.

The umpire’s bad call turned what should have been a three-pitch strikeout into a home run. And the Major League Baseball world had plenty to say about it.

Fortunately for the Padres, the blown call didn’t cost them the game as they ultimately came back to win the game by a score of 5-3.

[Talking Friars]