Watch: Rays don't score go-ahead run on strange ground-rule double
The Tampa Bay Rays thought they took the lead after Kevin Kiermaier hit a double with Yandy Diaz on first base, which happened while tied with the Boston Red Sox during the 13th inning in Game 3 of the ALDS on Sunday.
However, umpires ruled the play a ground-rule double after the ball bounced off the wall, hit off outfielder Hunter Renfroe, and then went over into Boston's bullpen. The Rays ended up with runners on second and third when a replay review upheld the call on the field.
Make it make sense pic.twitter.com/QyLp3UTpdL
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 11, 2021
The call caused a lot of confusion since it's rare to see a ball go off a player and then out of play, but the umps made the correct decision according to the rule book.
Here it is. Rule 5.05(a)(8). It explains the ruling that put Kevin Kiermaier on second and kept Yandy Diaz on third. pic.twitter.com/aBg0fImlIg
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 11, 2021
"That's the ruling; the umpire explained it to me. The rules are what they are. But that's a heartbreaker. I can't believe that's a ground-rule double," Kiermaier said postgame, according to ESPN's Marly Rivera.
The Red Sox ended up winning the game in the bottom of the 13th thanks to a walk-off home run from Christian Vazquez.