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Sunday, February 26, 2023

MLB Game Ends on Critical Pitch Clock Violation's Auto-K3

Atlanta's 9th inning rally fell short Saturday when the Braves' three-run comeback bid abruptly ended on a two-out, 3-2 count, bases loaded...automatic strike call due to batter Cal Conley not being in the box and alert to Red Sox pitcher Robert Kwiatkowski prior to the eight-second mark of the pitch clock's 20-second (with runners on base) countdown.

Atlanta had scored three runs turning a 6-3 deficit into a tied game when Conley threatened to win the game for the Braves, what with baserunner Eli White representing the winning run at third base. Instead, HP Umpire John Libka called "Time" and imposed an automatic strike upon batter Conley due to the pitch clock violation, resulting in the at-bat's third strike, inning's third out, and—because of Spring Training—the game's conclusion with a 6-6 tie.

This the second consecutive day since Spring Training began that a pitch clock violation resulted in an automatic strike, albeit the first time that a pitch clock violation effectively ended a ballgame at the major league level. On Friday, HP Umpire Ryan Blakney called Padres batter Manny Machado for an auto-strike due to the batter failing to be ready and alert at the eight-second mark of the countdown clock.

To review, a batter must be ready to go (in the box and alert to the pitcher) at the eight-second mark while the pitcher must be ready to go (the pitching motion must begin) prior to the zero-second mark of the countdown clock. A batter's violation results in an automatic strike while a pitcher's violation results in an auto-ball.

The countdown timer is 30 seconds between batters, 20 seconds between pitches with runners on base (clock starts when pitcher receives return ball), and 15 seconds between pitches with the bases empty.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Atlanta's winning run is stranded at third due to game-ending automatic strike (BOS)

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