The Tampa Bay Rays’ tricky substitution pattern made for a long, confusing delay in the eighth inning of their Wednesday afternoon game against the Boston Red Sox. Ultimately, Red Sox manager Alex Cora decided to protest the result, a 3-2 Rays victory.
Ultimately, it appears the umpires got the call correct and no protest will stand up. But it sure did make for a confusing scene.
Major lineup card issues in Tampa Bay. Cora spoke twice with umps, and now umps talking with Kevin Cash. It’d be great if they could tell us what the issue is, eh @BoogSciambi?
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 24, 2019
A double take on a double switch
Tampa Bay used Adam Kolarek as a reliever in the eighth inning. After he retired Sam Travis on a pop-out, Rays manager Kevin Cash went back to his bullpen.
Only Cash didn’t want Kolarek to leave the game. Cash moved Kolarek to first base for Ji-Man Choi. According to Rule 5.11, when an American League pitcher plays at another position, his team forfeits the DH and that player assumes the DH’s spot in the batting order.
This is where the confusion — and a long delay — happened. Kolarek moved to first base and assumed DH Austin Meadows’ No. 3 spot in the batting order. Chaz Roe came in to pitch and took over the No. 9 spot in the batting order, where Choi was.
Then, after Roe retired Mookie Betts for the second out, Kolarek moved back to the mound and Nate Lowe came in to play first base. Lowe was now in the No. 9 spot while Kolarek remained in the No. 3 spot.
Cora, however, was confused and at one point had Lowe in both the Nos. 3 and 9 spots on his lineup card. Cash appeared to know what he was doing, but he didn’t communicate his switches well to the opposing manager, a common courtesy. On top of it all, the umpires seemed confused as well.
Kolarek retired Rafael Devers to complete the longest, strangest 1-2-3 inning you’ll ever see. In the bottom of the eighth, Willy Adames pinch hit for Kolarek after another delay and the game finally resumed as usual.
The delays lasted nearly 20 minutes.
Are we having fun?#RaysUp
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 24, 2019
Much ado about nothing
The Rays hung on to win 3-2, and Cora kept the game under protest.
However, for all the confusion and poor communication, it doesn’t appear the Rays broke any rules. The umpires eventually got the ruling correct, and the victory should stand.
Here’s our video explanation for Rays Manager Kevin Cash’s substitutions Wednesday in Tampa Bay that drew Red Sox Manager Alex Cora’s protest. Rules citations are included showing TB’s DH termination was legal and why the umpires, ultimately, got it right.https://t.co/PFo6QoArko
— UEFL (@UmpireEjections) July 25, 2019
(h/t USA Today)
