The Chicago Cubs were furious with a game-ending strike call made by umpire Angel Hernandez on Sunday.
Anthony Rizzo was called out on strikes on a full count pitch with two outs in the bottom of the 9th despite the pitch being on the chalk, several inches outside. Here’s a look at it:
Angel Hernandez was ready to go home pic.twitter.com/pUmINdnhNS
— Robert O'Neill (@RobertONeill31) August 5, 2018
And here’s a look at the balls and strikes called in the at-bat:
The Angel Hernandez strike zone. pic.twitter.com/mrr6bdSzDh
— Brad (@ballskwok) August 5, 2018
Several members of the team disputed the call after the 10-6 loss to the San Diego Padres. Manager Joe Maddon called it an “egregiously bad call.”
Joe on Angel Hernandez game-ending call on Rizzo: "An egregiously bad call." pic.twitter.com/uUnHpvqM1q
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) August 5, 2018
Rizzo, who was the victim of the call, termed the call “unacceptable.”
Anthony Rizzo says he appreciates how hard the job is and stresses how much he respects umpires and Angel Hernandez in particular, but…"with that being said, that call was unacceptable. That can’t happen. It can’t happen in the major leagues, at Wrigley Field, at any field."
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) August 5, 2018
It doesn’t matter how unlikely a four-run comeback would have been. Hernandez has to be better. Unfortunately, this is all too common of a theme with him.
