WBC Game 2 Breaks Replay Review Record

After setting a new Replay Review record Monday, Tuesday's World Baseball Classic Championship Round game broke a different record—for most Replay Reviews in a nine-inning game—and it took just five innings to do it, conducting five reviews in that span.

Eric Cooper and Trevor Grieve during review.

As was the case during Monday's semifinal game between Puerto Rico and Netherlands, Tuesday's USA vs Japan game also featured modified international rules suspending the Manager's Challenge and allowing teams to request Crew Chief reviews at any point during the game.

In other words, don't expect this record to be broken during the upcoming 2430-game MLB regular season. Had Monday's game been played under Manager's Challenge rules, Team USA would have lost its first challenge in the second inning, while Japan would have lost its challenge in the bottom of the third, meaning that only two reviews—total—would have been conducted.

Fortunately, Tuesday's five reviews were completed more expeditiously than Monday's four, as the USA-Japan reviews averaged under one minute from the time the umpires donned their headsets until they removed the devices to render a final decision. Despite the five reviews, the United States' 2-1 win on Tuesday took just three hours, 12 minutes to complete.

The first Replay Review during the USA-Japan game occurred in the top of the 2nd inning, while the fifth and final record-breaking review took place in the bottom of the 5th.

Replay Review 1, Top 2: Out/Safe timing play at first base on Eric Homer's groundout, initially ruled "out" by 1B Umpire Eric Cooper. After review, Cooper's ruling was affirmed. Out.

Replay Review 2, Top 3: Out/Pulled foot play at second base on Japan second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi's attempted turn of a double play (formerly the neighborhood play), baserunner Buster Posey initially ruled "out" by 2B Umpire Trevor Grieve. After review, Grieve's ruling was overturned. Safe.

Replay Review 3, Bot 3: Out/Pulled foot play at second base on USA second baseman Ian Kinsler's attempted retirement of Japan baserunner Seiji Kobayashi, initially ruled "out" by 2B Umpire Trevor Grieve. After review, Grieve's ruling was affirmed. Out.

Replay Review 4, Bot 3: Out/Safe play at second base on Japan baserunner Tetsuto Yamada's stolen base attempt, initially ruled "safe" by 2B Umpire Trevor Grieve. After review, Grieve's ruling was affirmed. Safe.

Replay Review 2, Top 5: Out/Safe play at first base on Japan batter Nobuhiro Matsuda's groundout, initially ruled "safe" by 1B Umpire Eric Cooper. After review, Cooper's ruling was overturned. Out.

Accordingly, Reviews #1-4 on Tuesday tied the record established during Monday's WBC semifinal for most Replay Reviews over a two-inning span, while Reviews #1-5 set a new mark for most reviews over a four-inning (or three-and-a-half inning) period.