Dodgers-Mets Obstruction, Tag-Up & Pirates Out of Base Path

Dodgers 3B Max Muncy's visual obstruction and Shohei Ohtani/Michael Conforto's timely tag-up in New York and Pirates runner Alexander Canario's out of the base path calls feature in this rules analysis trio. How did the umpires do?

Muncy's Obstruction: With one out and a runner on third, Mets batter Pete Alonso hit a fly ball to Dodgers right fielder Toescar Hernández, who threw home in time to retire baserunner R3 Starling Marte, with HP Umpire Ryan Blakney signaling the runner out on the tag. 3B Umpire Tripp Gibson, however, called "Time" and ruled obstruction on Dodgers 3B Muncy, awarding Marte home for a Mets run.

According to the MLB Umpire Manual pertaining to official rule interpretations, Muncy committed obstruction by intentionally positioning himself to block R3 Marte's view of the fielder catching the sacrifice fly: "This is obstruction under Official Baseball Rule 6.01(h)(2). The umpire should call the infraction when it occurs and award bases, if any, in the appropriate manner."

Ohtani & Conforto's Timely Tag-Ups: Also in this game, New York unsuccessfully challenged 2B Umpire Marvin Hudson's call that Dodgers baserunners R1 Ohtani and R2 Conforto did not leave early (fail to retouch) second base on an outfield fly ball that was caught. Mets outfielders Juan Soto and Tyron Taylor briefly juggled the fly ball before Taylor ultimately caught it. Replays indicate R2 Conforto left second base after Soto's first touch of the fly ball, but before Taylor's eventual catch.

According to the Official Baseball Rule's definition of a catch, "Runners may leave their bases the instant the first fielder touches the ball." This means Conforto timely retouched by leaving second base after fielder Soto's touch, even if he left before the bobbled ball was eventually caught.

Canario's Out of the Base Path Overslide: In Pittsburgh, HP Umpire Mark Wegner called Pirates baserunner Alexander Canario out at home for running more than three feet away to avoid a tag on a play at the plate. Runner Canario overslid home plate and, in doing so, Wegner ruled that Canario ran out of his base path, since the base path from the start of the tag attempt ends at the base to which the runner is trying.

OBR 5.09(b)(1) states, "Any runner is out when they run more than three feet away from their base path to avoid being tagged unless their action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball. A runner’s base path is established when the tag attempt occurs and is a straight line from the runner to the base they are attempting to reach safely."

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 043 - Ron Kulpa (2; Oliver Marmol)

HP Umpire Ron Kulpa ejected Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (strike three call to Iván Herrera; QOCN) in the bottom of the 4th inning of the #Diamondbacks-#Cardinals game. With none out and one on, Cardinals batter Herrera took a 3-2 fastball from Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen for a called third strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and below the hollow of the knee (px 0.64, pz 1.35 [sz_bot 1.63 / RAD 1.51 / MOE 1.43]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Diamondbacks were leading, 1-0. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

 

This is Ron Kulpa (46)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 0.96 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 43rd ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 23rd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 23 Managers, 10 Coaches, 10 Players.

This is St Louis' 3rd ejection of 2025, 1st in the NL Central (PIT, STL 3; CIN, MIL 2; CHC 1).

This is Oliver Marmol's 3rd ejection of 2025, 1st since April 30 (Bruce Dreckman; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Ron Kulpa's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since April 16 (Jorge López; QOC = U [Throwing At]).

Wrap: Arizona Diamondbacks vs St Louis Cardinals, 5/23/25 | Video as follows:

A Weird Walk-off Win on Base Coach Interference???

Despite umpires calling base coach assist interference, MiLB's Reno Aces walked off the Albuquerque Isotopes when CF Sam Hilliard threw a live ball over the outfield fence, allowing the winning run to score in one of the weirdest come-from-behind wins you'll ever see.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning, visiting and defensive team Albuquerque held a 4-3 lead over offensive team Reno. Reno batter Connor Kaiser hit a 3-2 fastball on a sharp line drive to Albuquerque center fielder Hilliard as Reno baserunner R3 Aramis Garcia scored from third base.

However, as runner R2 Cristian Pache rounded third, he collided with a teammate who had come off the bench to celebrate, and who tried getting Pache reoriented to score after the collision. HP Umpire Steven Hodgins called assist interference on the bench, declaring Cristian Pache out, but because Hodgins used the base coach interference rule (as opposed to actual hinder-or-impede interference for runners and retired/scored teammates), the ball remained live.

Mistakenly thinking the game was already over (perhaps unaware of Pache being ruled out), CF Hilliard then threw the live ball over the fence and out of play, resulting in a dead ball and two base award for trailing runner R1 Andy Weber, who had attained second base (if not third base) by the time of the throw. This meant Weber was awarded home, scoring Reno's 5th run to preserve the wacky walk-off win.

Hodgins ruled Pache out under base coach assist Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(8), which states it is interference when "(8) In the judgment of the umpire, the base coach at third base, or first base, by touching or holding the runner, physically assists them in returning to or leaving third base or first base."

This brand of interference is treated differently than the usual runners or retired runners' interference rules, which result in an immediate dead ball. According to Wendelstedt Manual, the ball remains live on base coach assist interference, and the ball remaining live allowed the rest of the play to occur: "Following a coach’s interference, the assisted runner is out, but the ball remains alive. Other runners may make bases or outs" (Wendelstedt p. 159).

The two-base award in OBR 5.06(b)(4)(G): "Each runner including the batter-runner may, without liability to be put out, advance two bases when, with no spectators on the playing field, a thrown ball goes into the stands," is taken at time-of-throw (as opposed to time-of-pitch), so R1's position at the time of the throw (either 2nd or 3rd base) meant that R1 scored as a result of his two-base award.

Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 042 - Alan Porter (2; Kevin Cash)

3B Umpire Alan Porter ejected Rays manager Kevin Cash (HBP Replay Review affirmed Astros batter Yainer Diaz was hit by a pitch while swinging; QOCY) in the top of the 8th inning of the #Astros-#Rays game. With two out and none on, Astros batter Yainer Diaz attempted to check his swing on a 2-2 fastball from Rays pitcher Edwin Uceta, ruled a hit-by-pitch (dead ball) by HP Umpire Jim Wolf, ruled a swing by 1B Umpire Brian Walsh on appeal, and affirmed via Replay Review as a HBP dead ball strike as the result of a challenge by Astros manager Joe Espada. Replays indicate the pitch hit batter Diaz as he swung at it for an inning-ending strikeout, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the Rays were leading, 5-4. The Rays ultimatley won the contest, 8-4.

 

This is Alan Porter (46)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*Official Baseball Rules Definition of Terms: "A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which touches the batter as they strike at it."

Replay Review Regulations: Hit-by-pitch (ball hits batter) is reviewable. Foul ball (ball hits bat) isn't.

This is the 42nd ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 22nd manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 21 Managers, 10 Coaches, 10 Players.

This is Tampa Bay's 2nd ejection of 2025, 4th in the AL East (BAL, NYY, TOR 3; BOS, TB 2).

This is Kevin Cash's 1st ejection since August 21, 2024 (Brock Ballou; QOC = Y [HBP Review]).

This is Alan Porter's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 8 (Terry Francona; QOC = Y [Replay Review]).

Wrap: Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays, 5/21/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 041 - Carlos Torres (1; Bruce Bochy)

HP Umpire Carlos Torres ejected Rangers manager Bruce Bochy (ball call to Aaron Judge; QOCN) in the bottom of the 6th inning of the #Rangers-#Yankees game. With none out and one on, Yankees batter Judge took a 0-1 changeup from Rangers pitcher Jacob Webb for a called first ball. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer edge of home plate and at the hollow beneath the knee (px 0.76, pz 1.80 [sz_bot 1.70 / RAD 1.58 / MOE 1.66]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the Yankees were leading, 2-0. The Yankees ultimately won the contest, 5-2.

 

This is Carlos Torres (37)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 1.08 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 41st ejection report of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 21st manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 21 Managers, 10 Coaches, 10 Players.

This is Texas' 1st ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL West (HOU, LAA, TEX 1; OAK, SEA 0).

This is Bruce Bochy's 1st ejection since August 13, 2024 (Erich Bacchus; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

This is Carlos Torres' 1st ejection since August 25, 2023 (Rocco Baldelli; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Texas Rangers vs New York Yankees, 5/20/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejections 039-40 - Mike Estabrook (1-2; BOS x2)

HP Umpire Mike Estabrook ejected Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler and manager Alex Cora (ball two call to Juan Soto; QOCN) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Mets-#RedSox game. With one out and one on, Mets batter Soto took a 1-0 cutter from Red Sox pitcher Buehler for a called second ball as Mets baserunner R1 Francisco Lindor stole second base. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the inner half of home plate and at the hollow beneath the knee (px 0.50, pz 1.89 [sz_bot 1.84 / RAD 1.72 / MOE 1.80]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejections, the game was tied, 0-0. The Red Sox ultimately won the contest, 2-0.

 

These are Mike Estabrook (83)'s 1st and 2nd ejections of 2025.

*This pitch was located 1.08 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

These are the 39th and 40th ejection reports of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 10th player & 20th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 20 Managers, 10 Coaches, 10 Players.

This is Boston's 1/2nd ejection of 2025, 3rd in the AL East (NYY, TOR 3; BAL 3; BOS 2; TB 1).

This is Walker Buehler's 1st ejection since August 20, 2021 (Nestor Ceja; QOC = N [Fair/Foul]).

This is Alex Cora's 1st ejection since September 22, 2024 (Alan Porter; QOC = Y-c [Obstruction]).

This is Mike Estabrook's 1st ejection since August 21, 2024 (Tim Laker; QOC = Y [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: New York Mets vs Boston Red Sox, 5/20/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 038 - Jordan Baker (2; Matt Quatraro)

2B Umpire Jordan Baker ejected Royals manager Matt Quatraro (out/non-obstruction call; QOCY) in the top of the 7th inning of the #Royals-#Giants game. With one out and one on and Michael Massey at bat, Giants pitcher Robbie Ray threw to first baseman Casey Schmitt, who threw to shortstop Willy Adames to pick off Royals baserunner R1 Dairon Blanco, attempting to steal second base. Replays indicate Adames tagged Blanco prior to the runner's arrival at second base and without illegally blocking the runner's access to the base (act of fielding exception), the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Royals ultimately won the contest, 3-1.

 

This is Jordan Baker (71)'s 2nd ejection of 2025.

*Official Baseball Rules Definition: "OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner."

Related Ejection: E77 - Paul Clemons (2; Matt Quatraro; QOC = Y [Obstruction No-Call]) (6/13/24).

This is the 38th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 19th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 19 Managers, 10 Coaches, 9 Players.

This is Kansas City's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL Central (CWS, KC, MIN 2; CLE, DET 0).

This is Matt Quatraro's 1st ejection since June 27, 2024 (Tripp Gibson; QOC = Y [Base Path]).

This is Jordan Baker's 2nd ejection of 2025, 1st since May 17 (Jeff Banister; QOC = Y [Pitch Clock]).

Wrap: Kansas City Royals vs San Francisco Giants, 5/19/25 | Video as follows:

MLB Ejection 037 - Nick Mahrley (1; Joe Espada)

HP Umpire Nick Mahrley ejected Astros manager Joe Espada (strike one call to Isaac Paredes; QOCN) in the top of the 3rd inning of the #Astros-#Rangers game. With two out and none on, Astros batter Paredes took a 1-0 curveball from Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter for a called first strike. Replays indicate the pitch was located over the outer half of home plate and below the hollow beneath the knee (px 0.52, pz 1.19 [sz_bot 1.57 / RAD 1.45 / MOE 1.37]), the call was incorrect.* At the time of the ejection, the game was tied, 0-0. The Astros ultimately won the contest, 4-3.

 

This is Nick Mahrley (48)'s 1st ejection of 2025.

*This pitch was located 2.16 vertical inches from being deemed correct.

This is the 37th ejection of the 2025 MLB regular season.

This is the 18th manager ejection of 2025. Ejection Tally: 18 Managers, 10 Coaches, 9 Players.

This is Houston's 1st ejection of 2025, 1st in the AL West (HOU, LAA 1; OAK, SEA, TEX 0).

This is Joe Espada's 1st ejection since Sept 17, 2024 (Chris Conroy; QOC = N-c [Fair/Foul]).

This is Nick Mahrley's 1st ejection since July 11, 2024 (Kevin Pillar; QOC = N [Balls/Strikes]).

Wrap: Houston Astros vs Texas Rangers, 5/18/25 | Video as follows: