For the second time in less than a week, a Major League Baseball game has featured an interference call following an infield fly.
May 23rd’s game between the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles ended with an 8-6 Orioles win after the controversial call, which sent White Sox play-by-play announcer John Schriffen into a fury.
John Schriffen goes off on umpires after a controversial finish to the Orioles/White Sox game.
"Adrian Johnson. As the crew chief, you gotta take over here. THAT CANNOT BE HOW THIS GAME ENDS…I don't even have any words right now. I'm at a loss and I'm trying to keep my job." pic.twitter.com/4HloneWWlU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 24, 2024
In the first inning of Wednesday night’s game between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, the call was made again, as designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton popped up to shortstop Zach Neto, who awkwardly collided with Yankees outfielder Juan Soto on the play. Soto was ruled out on interference and the inning came to a close.
It's another one of those interference calls on an infield fly rule (after the Orioles-White Sox drama last week).
Yankees star Juan Soto is called for interference and it leads to manager Aaron Boone being ejected. pic.twitter.com/VDG9bwpvAu
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 30, 2024
Soto did collide with Neto and caused Neto to miss the ball, but an infield fly is an automatic out and all catching the ball does is prevent runners from tagging up. Even had Neto not made the catch, it’s unlikely the runners would have advanced. It’s also unclear what Soto was supposed to do or where he could have gone in that situation, as he’s clearly trying to run back to the base and Neto is in the way.
The umpires gathered to discuss the call, and after coming away with a ruling of a double play, Yankees manager Aaron Boone came on the field to argue and promptly got ejected.
Social media had a lot to say about the controversial call, with folks being split on which of Soto or Neto were to blame.
That is a horrible, horrible call. Neto misplayed the ball and where is Soto supposed to go and it’s the infield fly rule. That’s garbage.
— Randy Wilkins (@pamsson) May 30, 2024
STFU Boone. Sit your ass down back in the clubhouse clown. Soto clearly impeded Neto’s chances at catching that flyball.
— AngelsWin.com (@AngelsWin) May 30, 2024
Neto pretty clearly backs into Soto, I’m really not sure what he’s supposed to do here? https://t.co/uKJ77cEps9
— Jason Marks (@Jason_Marks42) May 30, 2024
“where was soto supposed to go?”
WHERE WAS NETO SUPPOSED TO GO 😭
— swilly ☻ (@swillysports) May 30, 2024
