Pirates lose to Braves in 19th inning on controversial call at plate
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The Braves' Julio Lugo scores the game-winning run in the 19th inning against Pirates catcher Mike McKenry at Turner Field in Atlanta Tuesday. McKenry appeared to make the tag before Lugo touched the plate but umpire Jerry Meals called him safe. MLB video: Watch a replay of the final play
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ATLANTA -- The Braves and Pirates produced a classic as the two teams battled into the 19th inning Tuesday night (and Wednesday morning) before a crowd of 22,036 at Turner Field.
But in the end, few people will likely remember all of the great defensive plays and clutch pitches both teams made because of the controversial way it ended and the fact that, by most accounts -- and backed by video evidence -- home plate umpire Jerry Meals blew the most important call he had to make.
"The game deserved better," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle shortly after the Pirates, 4-3, 19-inning loss to the Braves. "You'd like to see the game finished by the players, win or lose, and for it to end that way, is as disappointing as it gets in a game
"You had every player in the game and for it to end that way ... the game deserves better than that. The game tonight deserved way better than that."
Game: Pirates vs. Braves, 7:10 p.m., Turner Field.
TV, radio: Root Sports; WPGB-FM (104.7).
Pitching: LHP Paul Maholm (6-10, 3.26 ERA) vs. RHP Jair Jurrjens (12-3, 2.44 ERA).
Key matchup: Maholm vs. Turner Field. The road has not been kind to Maholm. He is 1-5 with a 4.45 ERA in nine road starts this season.
Of note: : Fifty of the Pirates first 100 games were decided by two runs or less. They were 28-22 in those games.
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The call in question came in the bottom of the 19th inning with the score tied 3-3. The Braves had runners on second and third with one out and relief pitcher Scott Proctor at the plate facing Pirates reliever Daniel McCutchen.
Proctor hit a groundball to third which was fielded cleanly by Pedro Alvarez, who then threw home to Pirates catcher Mike McKenry for what appeared to be a relatively easy out as it appeared he tagged Braves runner Julio Lugo before he slid across the base.
But Meals didn't see it that way and called Lugo safe, which meant the Braves had won the game
Hurdle then charged out of the dugout and argued vehemently with Meals about the call, while McKenry also pleaded his case, but the call was made and the game was over.
First Published July 27, 2011 1:59 am
