Blocked relay throw has Pirates steamed

Associated Press

PHOENIX

Manager Clint Hurdle and the Pittsburgh Pirates lingered on the field to argue with the umpires, to no avail. It was all over.

The Pirates lost 3-2 to the Diamondbacks on Sunday when Arizona runner Nick Ahmed put his arms up as he slid into second base and deflected a potential double play relay in the 10th inning.

With runners at the corners and one out, Andy Marte hit a grounder to shortstop Jordy Mercer, who flipped to second baseman Jayson Nix for a forceout.

Ahmed came in with his arms raised up, and was hit by Nix’s throw. The ball rolled away, allowing Tuffy Gosewich to score the winning run.

Hurdle argued for runner’s interference.

“The rule book states is the only way you can call runner’s interference is if they alter his slide to try and prevent a throw,” Hurdle said. “In their opinion, in the second base umpire’s, he did not alter his slide. He threw his hands up like most guys do in a slide and unfortunately it was right in the direct line with the ball.

“I felt there was an extra effort in getting his hands up, in the way.”

There was no video review of the final play, and crew chief Ron Kulpa said the call couldn’t be challenged.

After the game, the umpires looked at a replay for their own sake. Second base umpire Lance Barrett stood by his no-call on interference and Kulpa backed him.

Gosewich doubled with one out in the 10th and Ahmed walked. A wild pitch by Mark Melancon (1-3) moved Gosewich to third.

Mercer said he had never seen anything like the final play.

“All I know is I can see him not intentionally doing it because do you know how hard it is, trying to knock down a ball with a hand?” Mercer said. “It’s just unfortunate. It’s weird. I have never seen it, especially with an open hand.”

The Pirates had runners on second and third in the top half of the inning, but Evan Marshall (4-2) struck out pinch hitter Gaby Sanchez and Travis Snider to escape the jam.

Pirates star Andrew McCutchen left the game with left side discomfort. There were no further details on his injury.

The Pirates signed Nix before Sunday’s game. He was released by Tampa Bay on Friday and also played for Philadelphia earlier this season. Nix entered the game in the eighth.

The Pirates optioned infielder Brent Morel, who went 2 for 2 with three RBIs in Saturday night’s 8-3 win over Arizona, to Triple-A Indianapolis. He was 3 for 16 in nine games with the Pirates.