Angel Hernandez wasn’t friends with the Tigers Thursday afternoon.
The often-criticized MLB umpire was at the center of a controversial call during the Mets’ 6-3 overtime loss to the Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader, but neither Detroit nor the Bally Sports announcer called him out. seemed to disagree with his opinion. Called the play in the 11th inning.
Spencer Torkelson was at bat, the Tigers had already scored three runs in the second overtime, Detroit still had the bases loaded, and the slugger pitched a ball to the inside corner that appeared to hit either the bat or his little finger.
Hernandez, who was calling the ball and strike from behind home plate, immediately raised his hand and flagged it as a dead ball with a foul tip.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch wanted to appeal the call, but after the three field umpires met, the captain decided whether Torkelson had received Michael Tonkin’s up-and-in pitch. It was as if he had been told he could not object.
That’s because, as SNY’s feed captured from on-field audio, Hernandez was actually swinging the bat at Torkelson, and teams can’t contest the call after the swing is called. Because you can’t.
“I put him on a swing, 1-2,” Hernandez can be heard explaining to the Mets’ dugout.
Hinch seemed upset, especially since Torkelson seemed far from swinging the bat.
Hernandez, who made headlines during this year’s spring training when he ejected Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn for contesting a walk and a strike, seemed to take the Tigers’ broadcast by surprise.
“Is he saying it’s a strike?” Tigers play-by-play broadcaster Jason Benetti said after Hernandez determined the call was a foul tip on the swing.
“Yes, he said he took a swing. That’s why I called it a strike,” agreed analyst Craig Monroe.
“He didn’t swing…that’s wild,” Benetti replied.
“I can’t believe it,” Monroe concluded.
Torkelson ended the threat with his next grounder, but Detroit still won.
The Mets bounced back with a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.
