The Los Angeles Dodgers’ dramatic 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 5 of the National League Division Series ended on a controversial note Thursday night.
First base umpire Gabe Morales ruled that San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores was unable to check his swing, resulting in strike three for Flores and the end of the Giants’ season.
After the game in San Francisco, Giants fans expressed their displeasure with Morales and the rest of the umpiring crew by throwing cups of beer and other objects, according to NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Shawn Estes, a former pitcher for the Giants and others.
“We were in the tunnel going onto the field,” Estes said. “That’s where the umpires leave the field. It got a little ugly there with some of the fans hanging over the railing, throwing beer on the umpires. Wasn’t a great sight.”
Morales was asked by a reporter if he felt differently about the call after reviewing the replay.
Left field umpire Ted Barrett answered for his colleague.
“Yeah, no, we, yeah, yeah, he doesn’t want to say,” Barrett said.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler took the high road when asked about the call, which came with the tying run at first base.
“Obviously you don’t want a game to end like that,” Kapler said. “These (umpires) work really hard to make the right calls. Obviously, it’s going to be frustrating to have a game end like that. Pretty high-quality batter at the plate who can climb back into the count. …
“But there are other reasons we didn’t win today’s baseball game. That was just the last call of the game.”
The defending World Series champion Dodgers face the Braves in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday night in Atlanta.
–Field Level Media
