Major League Baseball officials admitted umpires made a mistake in Thursday night's game between the Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros.
The mistake came in the top of the seventh inning when the umpires allowed Astros manager Bo Porter to make consecutive pitching changings. Porter brought in left-handed relief pitcher Wesley Wright to face left-handed hitter J.B. Shuck. The Angels sent right-handed batter Luis Jimenez to the plate instead, and Porter sprinted to the mound to make another pitching change, according to Sports Illustrated.
Umpire, Fieldin Culbreth, initially told the rookie Astros manager that he couldn't switch another pitcher for Wright, but Porter argued that a new rule permitted the move.
Culbreth yielded and allowed the change, which sent Angels manager Mike Scoscia out to argue it. The umpire stood by his decision and Scoscia played the game under protest.
Los Angeles went on to win, 6-5.
Porter explained his interpretation of the rule afterward to the Houston Chronicle (via SI):
"[That was] my understanding of the rule and I was fortunate enough last year to sit in with Davey (Johnson of the Washington Nationals) when they changed the rule of a pitcher having to face a batter," he said. "But at the same time if you pinch-hit for that batter, you now have the right to bring in another pitcher.
"So technically Wesley came in to face the batter that was scheduled to hit, but (Scioscia) pinch hit for the batter that was scheduled to hit, which my understanding of the rule means you can now bring in another pitcher to face the pinch hitter."
Porter's interpretation was wrong. The MLB rule actually reads:
"If the pitcher is replaced, the substitute pitcher shall pitch to the batter then at bat, or any substitute batter, until such batter is put out or reaches first base, or until the offensive team is put out, unless the substitute pitcher sustains injury or illness which, in the umpire-in-chief's judgment, incapacitates him for further play as a pitcher."
Thursday's mistake is the second by MLB umpires in less than 24-hours. Umpires mistakenly ruled a home run hit by Oakland Athletics' Adam Rosales as a double on Wednesday night, which potentially cost Oakland a win against the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland eventually won 4-3.
MLB officials conceded on Thursday that the umpires made "an improper call," but the league would not rescind Cleveland's win.
