Rockies win game due to little-known rule in MLB first as Nationals star Kyle Finnegan admits ‘that can’t happen’
THE Colorado Rockies pulled off a never-before-seen victory in Major League Baseball in dramatic scenes Saturday.
Colorado beat the Washington Nationals 8-7 in a walkoff at Coors Field in Denver.
The Colorado Rockies won on a pitch clock violation which lead to a walkoffAP
GettyHome plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called the violation on Kyle Finnegan (not pictured) while Ryan McMahon (right) was at the plate[/caption]
And it all came down to the pitch clock, which is only in it’s second season in the MLB.
The Rockies trailed 7-6 as they took to the plate for the bottom of the ninth inning.
They drew level at 7-7 before loading the bases on pitcher Kyle Finnegan.
Finnegan stepped up to try and throw his way out of trouble to Colorado’s Ryan McMahon.
But before he could get it off, the umpire intervened.
Finnegan was flagged for a pitch clock violation which resulted in a walk for McMahon.
And with the bases loaded, that allowed Jake Cave to stroll home from third base for the game-winning run.
A pitch clock violation resulting in a walkoff win has never been seen before in the MLB.
Under new rules brought in from the 2023 season, pitchers are allowed 15 seconds with no runners on base.
But Finnegan had 18 seconds to pitch as there were men on base, in this case on all three.
The violation was Finnegan’s ninth this season but none have been more costly.
He was angry with the way the game ended, but seemed to shoulder blame for the violation.
“At first, I didn’t really know what he called because I thought I was right on time. I wasn’t,” Finnegan said.
“So it kind of dawned on me that I was too late.
“Just immediately, I felt awful about letting the team down in that big spot there.
Five key MLB rule changes in 2024
1. The pitch clock is reduced from 20 to 18 seconds with runners on base. It will remain at 15 seconds with bases empty.
2. When a pitching change is made, the innings timer will reset to 2:00 rather than 2:15 like it did last year.
3. Teams will only be allowed four mound visits per game in 2024, down from five last season.
4. Fielders and defenders blocking bases will be called for obstruction.
5. The runners’ lane from home plate to first base has been widened to include the dirt between the grass and the white line.
“To lose the game in that way, it just can’t happen.
“I’m just trying to focus on the pitch and the location.
“I thought I’d picked up the clock. I guess by the time I picked up and looked at the catcher and delivered the pitch, I was just a hair too late.
“I’m not going to change everything.
“Obviously, it’s been a thing for me but it’s something that I use and I’ve just got to be better about it.
“I like to use the clock to my advantage, but I’ve just got to make sure there’s still one tick left.
“I didn’t do that tonight, and I paid for it.”
His manager Dave Martinez also questioned Finnegan’s “awareness”.
“It’s a tough situation, but it’s something that he’s got to be mindful of, ” Martinez said.
“He’s just slow, that’s who he is. He’s a closer. It burned him today, but typically it hasn’t burned him.”
GettyKyle Finnegan admitted ‘that can’t happen’ and took the blame for the loss[/caption]
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