That’s what was bound to happen when MLB implemented its new rules: a team winning due to a walk-off pitch time violation.
Specifically, the Colorado Rockies beat the Washington Nationals 8-7 on Saturday because Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan was a second (or two) too late in throwing the ball to Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon with a full count, bases loaded and the score tied.
Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstead called Finnegan foul and awarded him a walk-off walk, known in baseball netting circles as a shrimp fry. McMahon seemed to think he’d struck out because he swung at Finnegan’s pitch, but seconds later he was showered with Gatorade.
Honestly, it wouldn’t be a big surprise if Finnegan were to lose in a way that no pitcher has ever lost before. The right-hander has been great this season, posting a 1.72 ERA in 31 1/3 innings as of Saturday, but Washington Post reporter Andrew Golden points out that Finnegan has already committed a league-high eight inning time violations this season.
The next best pitcher had five.
The walk-off offense was the culmination of a Rockies comeback after Washington led 7-5 going into the top of the eighth. McMahon hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth to put Colorado within one run, and in the ninth comeback, Brenton Doyle singled to bring McMahon back to bat and tie the game.
The loss dropped the Nationals to 37-39, dropping them to 1.5 games out of the third wild card spot, while the Rockies remain last in the NL West at 27-50.
But now they can say they’ve done something that no one has done before.
