The Los Angeles Dodgers managed to record their 43rd win of the season on Saturday night. However, a rowdy eighth inning highlighted by Balk Cole caused considerable controversy.
The Dodgers were trailing by a few points in the first inning, but the second-base umpire’s balk decision led the Dodgers to a winning run to defeat the defending World Series champions, the Houston Astros, 8-7.
Rein Stanek was clearly upset by the decision and argued with referee Junior Valentine. He eventually pulled himself together and struck out Michael Bush to end the frame. However, on the way to the dugout, he started screaming while pointing at Valentine.
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Houston Astros’ Rein Stanek alleged second base umpire Junior Valentine’s balk call after allowing the Dodgers’ Johnny DeLuca to score on June 24, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Harry Howe/Getty Images)
Valentine quickly decided to ban Stanek from the game, and Astros coach Josh Miller came out of the dugout to calm the pitcher.
But Miller was less successful, and home plate umpire Manny Gonzalez was forced to stand before an emotional Stanek.
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Houston manager Dutty Baker was also ejected from the game after getting up from the visiting team’s dugout and arguing.
“Stanek was rioting, so some kind of explanation was needed,” Baker said.
The 74-year-old manager added later. “Well, it’s the hard way to lose it.”
With this balk, Johnny Deluca overran home plate to tie the game at seven in the eighth inning.
Throughout the years, Vaucleur has often been controversial due to its lack of transparency. In many cases, the game is whether the umpire believes the pitcher has deceived the runner.
Stanek later revealed that he defended the call by telling the pitcher that his right leg appeared to cringe after Valentine peered into the pitch.
“He said I moved my leg, but it was obvious because I got off the mound,” Stanek said. “Besides that, I wholeheartedly disagree. Balk is deliberately trying to deceive the runner. At what point was I deceiving the runner? I wasn’t even on set yet.” I literally just stepped back.”
Dodgers’ Johnny Deluca jogs home while scoring with a balk on June 24, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Harry Howe/Getty Images)
Stanek also admitted to watching the replay. From his point of view, the move in question was not up to Balk’s level.
“This move is not trivial,” he said. “I think it’s a pretty drastic decision considering the referee decided the game on that play.”
Stanek entered Saturday’s game with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Aside from the heated exchange between Stanek and the umpires, teammates Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman were booed by the crowd at Dodger Stadium. Altuve and Bregman are the last two players on the Astros’ current roster, who also played on the controversial 2017 World Series team.
Rein Stanek of the Houston Astros responds to a balk call in the bottom of the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2023. (Harry Howe/Getty Images)
That year, the Astros were the subject of a sign-stealing scandal and defeated the Dodgers in the championship series.
On Saturday night, when Altuve and Bregman took to the plate, loud chants rang out: “Cheater! Cheater!” It rained down from the Dodgers.
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MLB told teams in February that it would focus on umpires properly enforcing the baucle rule.
Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.