Larry Brown Sports

The debut of baseball’s one-game wild-card playoff format was marred by a mess that would make the NFL’s replacement refs cringe.

The Braves-Cardinals game Friday night was delayed in the eighth inning after Atlanta fans began littering the field with debris in protest of a call that went against their team.

With the Braves trailing 6-3 with one out and men on first and second, Atlanta’s Andrelton Simmons hit a pop fly to left that fell between Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma and left fielder Matt Holliday. However, left field umpire Sam Holbrook called the infield fly rule right before the ball dropped — halfway out into the outfield.

Instead of bases loaded and one out, Atlanta was left with men on second and third with two outs. The fans were so upset they began littering the field with debris, causing an 18-minute delay. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez protested the call. Atlanta’s next batter, pinch-hitter Brian McCann, walked to load the bases, but Michael Bourn struck out to end the inning, and the Braves went on to lose 6-3.

Tough way for Chipper Jones’ career to end, especially after he railed against the one-game playoff format last month. Braves fans won’t forgive the umpires for this call anytime soon.

Here’s the official definition of the rule per MLB rules:

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How big of a deal was Chipper Jones’ last weekend for regular-season action at Turner Field in Atlanta? Enough to make one Braves fan claim she skipped a chemotherapy session to watch the franchise legend play his last regular-season game at home for the Braves.

Chipper Jones’ retirement tour has been a huge deal all season with the former MVP receiving gifts at nearly every stop. His impending retirement was enough to pack the house at Turner Field all weekend — no small feat.

Even though he went hitless the first two games of the series, Chipper went 1-for-2 with two walks in a 6-2 win on Sunday. Hopefully he made the fan’s missed session worthwhile.

UPDATE: A few people emailed in to inform us that the fan in question is Laura Stallings. You can read more about her story at this Facebook page.

Side note: What’s up with all the cancer-related signs at baseball games lately?

Photo via @hgielatan/Twitter

The Braves are in a tight wild card race with less than 30 games left in the regular season, so at this point it’s safe to say every inning counts. Despite the fact that Atlanta has been in the hunt all season and almost always seems to be in the hunt, they rank in the middle of the pack in average attendance for home games.

Turner Field isn’t exactly Yankee Stadium when it comes to game day atmosphere, and that’s the way it has been for almost all of Chipper Jones’ 19-year career. As he attempts to give the fans in Atlanta one last memorable season with him as their third baseman, Chipper wants to hear more noise.

Come on Atlanta! The Ted was a morgue tonite. We need you in full force. We feed off you guys. No excuse for the loss! Just sayin…

— Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) September 5, 2012

On the positive side, the fans are less likely to boo the players in Atlanta and infuriate their closer like they do in places like this one. But chances are if Chipper wants to hear some serious noise, the Braves are going to have to plow their way into the postseason.

Photo credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE