Skip to content

Yankees play opener under protest after call at 1B

Al Bello / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The New York Yankees played Tuesday's home opener under protest after the Houston Astros scored the go-ahead run during a controversial play in the eighth inning.

Joe Girardi informed the umpiring crew that the Yankees were protesting the game after Carlos Correa was ruled safe at first, despite replays showing he ran on the field to avoid being tagged out by right-hander Dellin Betances.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

With one out in the eighth, Betances cleanly fielded Correa's weak contact, but his throw sailed over the head of Mark Teixeira, and allowed Jose Altuve to score from second base to give the Astros a 3-2 lead. Girardi left the dugout to argue that Correa ran too far inside the baseline and interfered with Betances' errant throw, but after briefly convening, the officials upheld the ruling on the field.

Houston held off New York to win 5-3 in a Bronx rematch of last year's AL Wild Card game. After the game, crew chief Dana DeMuth explained that the ruling was upheld because Correa "didn't impede or hinder the first baseman from fielding the ball."

"He's fine unless he impedes or hinders the first baseman or actually a fielder from making a play at first base and he didn't. That ball (from Betances) was so high that in my judgment that was just an error, a bad throw," DeMuth told reporters after the game.

DeMuth, a full-time MLB umpire since 1985, also added that Correa would've been called out had Betances simply thrown the ball into his back.

"Do it," he said. "Throwing into the runner's back. Because then what's happening? He is impeding."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox