The Colorado Rockies are having a year they want to forget. Despite the losses, pain, and frustration, the team did get a memorable moment on Saturday. The Rockies won a game over the Washington Nationals due to a bases-loaded pitch clock violation, per ESPN. The full-count violation walked in a run, and it was the first time in MLB history a victory was decided that way.
“I'm just trying to focus on the pitch and then location,” Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan said, per the outlet. “I thought I picked up the clock. I guess by the time I picked up and looked at the catcher and delivered the pitch, I was just a hair too late. Those situations, it just can't happen. We deserved to win, and I wasn't able to do my job.”
How the Rockies got this win
The Rockies had the bases loaded in the ninth inning Saturday, when the bizarre event occurred. Ryan McMahon was at the plate for Colorado, facing Finnegan. McMahon was actually behind in the count, but battled his way to a full count. Then, the home plate umpire called the pitch clock violation while Finnegan was getting ready. A violation is called when the pitcher doesn't deliver a throw to home plate in the alloted amount of time.
“You hate to see a game decided that way, but I'm happy it worked out in our favor,” McMahon said. “I'm never looking [at the clock]. I'm letting the umpire do his job. I didn't know what was going on until the umpire said something.”
The violation means a runner can advance to first base. Since the Rockies already had the bases loaded, the advancing runner scored the winning run. It was truly an astonishing turn of events. The Rockies are having one of the worst seasons in baseball, and this may turn out to be one of the highlights of the year. Colorado is now 27-50 on the campaign, following the victory.
The loss absolutely has to sting for the Nationals. Finnegan had been making the most of his save opportunities, but he apparently has been having some issues.
“Kyle has had some trouble lately with the clock,” Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “It hadn't really cost him to that point, but it's something that we've kind of felt like might come back to haunt him at some point. He could have stepped off, but it's a tough situation.
“That's something that he has to be mindful of. He's just slow. So it burned him today. Typically it hasn't burned him.”
The pitch clock was instilled as an MLB rule in the 2023 season. Pitchers have 18 seconds to throw to home plate, when a runner is on base. That has been shortened from last season, when it was 20 seconds, per ESPN.
Colorado won the game 8-7 following the umpire's call. Rockies fans are surely loving how the rule was able to give the club an assist in their latest victory. The Rockies and Nationals play again on Sunday.
Follow Us
Subscribe