Some fans may have been bothered by Brett Gardner’s takeout slide of Max Muncy at second base in the ninth inning of Saturday’s game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees, but manager Dave Roberts does not see an issue.
The Yankees had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth when Gio Urshela grounded a ball to the left side. The Dodgers went to second for the attempt at a force out. Gardner slid into Muncy, who was trying to turn a double play, and took out the Dodgers second baseman.
Brett Gardner made a hard slide into second base, and Max Muncy went down. Then, Gleyber Torres round third to score. A whole lot of confusion, as the play is under review. Based on replay angles, it appears Gardner was safe on a legal slide. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/Lpn4j9Juee
— Tom Hanslin (@TomHanslin) August 24, 2019
Old school baseball from Gardner. Not sure Muncy’s body is meant to twist like that. #Yankees #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/ruxAQK6HWM
— Dingers N’ Mash (@DingersnM) August 24, 2019
Gardner was called safe upon a review, which gave the Yankees bases loaded. Kenley Jansen struck out the next two batters to end the game, though there was a controversy before that.
Roberts was asked about the slide after the game. The Dodgers manager called it a “good baseball play,” according to ESPN’s Marly Rivera.
Dave Roberts on the Brett Gardner slide: "It was a good baseball play." https://t.co/8ijAw2U46C
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) August 24, 2019
Muncy said Gardner did not violate any rules with his slide. He acknowledged Gardner got him “pretty good.”
Max Muncy said that Brett Gardner “got me pretty good” on his 9th inning slide. Muncy was not injured on the play. “In terms of the rule they created, the only thing was (Gardner) reaching out and grabbing me,” Muncy said. Dodgers lost that challenge.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) August 24, 2019
The slide seemed to be part of the game; Gardner did not go out of his way to try taking out Muncy.
