Clevinger rips new extra-innings rule: It's the 'whackest shit'
The Cleveland Indians became one of the first teams to lose a game under the new extra-innings rule, and Mike Clevinger, the team's starting pitcher in the contest, didn't take long to voice his criticism.
This new extra inning rule is the whackest s*** I’ve ever seen, do you have any idea how hard it is to get a runner to second off the back end of a bullpen?!!! #ThisIsntTravelBall #MakeThemEarnIt @MLB
— ❂ Mike 𝕊𝕌ℕ𝕊ℍ𝕀ℕ𝔼 Clevinger ❂ (@Mike_Anthony13) July 26, 2020
A game between the Indians and Kansas City Royals on Saturday was tied 2-2 after nine innings. Under the rules of the compressed 60-game season, each extra inning begins with a runner on second base.
With the Royals the visitors, Brett Phillips opened the top of the 10th as Kansas City's runner - pinch running for Alex Gordon, who was the final out of the previous inning. The go-ahead run scored through a sacrifice bunt from Erick Mejia and a sacrifice fly from Maikel Franco, and Greg Holland converted the save in the bottom of the 10th to complete the Royals' 3-2 victory.
Clevinger gave up two runs - on two solo homers - in the first inning, but he settled into a groove afterward, allowing four hits over seven innings while notching six strikeouts.