MLB denies Angels' protest of Wednesday's game

Major League Baseball announced Thursday it has denied the Los Angeles Angels' protest of Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals that stemmed from a controversial seventh-inning call.

Manager Mike Scioscia made the decision to protest because he believed umpires missed an interference call on Royals infielder Raul A. Mondesi while he ran to first base on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Scioscia argued Mondesi was inside the base line and interfered with pitcher Matt Shoemaker's throw, causing it to sail into right field and allowing the game-tying run to score while Mondesi scampered to third base.

That play tied the game at 3-3, and a nearly 10-minute delay followed, after which umpires refused to overturn the call, prompting Scioscia to play the remainder of the contest under protest. The next batter, Jarrod Dyson, tripled to give the Royals the lead.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Scioscia was still furious with the umpiring crew after the game and firmly believed they misinterpreted the rule in question, instead of it being a "judgement call" as to where on the baseline Mondesi was running when he reached first base. The league ruled it was indeed a judgement call, which rendered his protest moot; only protests against rules that are wrongly applied can be won, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

''It's not a judgement call,'' Scioscia told reporters after the game, according to the Associated Press. ''I would not have protested if I was not 100 percent correct on this. This is a misinterpretation of a rule. It was very clear. Phil Cuzzi, the home plate umpire, had Mondesi running inside the line in jeopardy the whole way, and stated that it's okay because he was stepping back toward the bag, which is wrong.''

Kansas City held on to defeat the Angels 7-5.