The Reds attempt to revisit Merkle’s Boner, unsuccessfully. In the 10th inning of a 3 – 3 game, the Diamondbacks load the bases, then PH Chris Owings hits a ball over CF Billy Hamilton’s head, driving in the winning run. But, while Arizona is celebrating its walk-off win, the Reds notice that neither the runner on first base nor the one on second have touched the next base, and tag both bases, appealing to the umpires to declare them out on an inning-ending double play. However, while the Reds are right about the runners not touching their base, the umpires rule that it does not matter, as with one out, only the fact that the runner touched home and the batter made it to first base are relevant. In 1908, Fred Merkle had been called out for failing to touch second base on a similar play, upsetting a close pennant race, but the rules pertaining to such a situation have been clarified since.
The Reds attempt to revisit Merkle’s Boner, unsuccessfully. In the 10th inning of a 3 – 3 game, the Diamondbacks load the bases, then PH Chris Owings hits a ball over CF Billy Hamilton’s head, driving in the winning run. But, while Arizona is celebrating its walk-off win, the Reds notice that neither the runner on first base nor the one on second have touched the next base, and tag both bases, appealing to the umpires to declare them out on an inning-ending double play. However, while the Reds are right about the runners not touching their base, the umpires rule that it does not matter, as with one out, only the fact that the runner touched home and the batter made it to first base are relevant. In 1908, Fred Merkle had been called out for failing to touch second base on a similar play, upsetting a close pennant race, but the rules pertaining to such a situation have been clarified since.
