After a wild and thrilling extra-innings affair in Game 3, it was the Boston Red Sox who topped the Tampa Bay Rays 6-4. The result, however, didn't come without controversy.
Per ESPN, Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier couldn't believe the ruling on his double in the 13th inning that ended up squandering an opportunity for Tampa Bay.
“I can't believe that happened or we don't get the chance to score right there,” Kiermaier said. “For one, I crushed that ball. I was hoping to leave the yard. I got a lot of snap and crackle but no pop. First and foremost, for that to happen right there, it just doesn't make sense to me.”
In the top of the 13th inning with two outs and a full count, Kiermaier crushed a ball to deep right for the Rays. Yandy Diaz was off on the pitch given the circumstances of the count and there being two outs. The ball hit off the wall in right then off of Red Sox outfielder Hunter Renfroe before skipping over the wall. Diaz would've scored easily but instead, he had to go back to 3rd base as the play was deemed a ground-rule double. The Rays left both runners stranded and the Red Sox walked off in the bottom half of the 13th.
Rays manager Kevin Cash understood the ruling despite not necessarily agreeing with the rule itself.
“That's just the rule,” Cash said. “That's the way it goes. It was very unfortunate for us. I think it was fairly obvious that [Kiermaier] or Yandy was going to come around to score, but it didn't go our way.”
The Red Sox lead the best-of-five series 2-1 over the Rays and Game 4 in Boston is set for Monday.
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