Phillies Lose To Marlins In Extra Innings, Play Game Under Protest
MIAMI (AP) -- The Philadelphia Phillies endured nearly five hours of bizarre baseball Sunday, lost on four walks in the 14th inning and then lobbied to play the game over.
The Florida Marlins benefited from an overturned ruling after a video review in the sixth inning, and Mike Cameron walked with two outs and the bases loaded in the 14th for a 5-4 win.
The Phillies' Hunter Pence was ruled out on fan interference after initially being awarded a double, and the ruling change may have cost the Phillies two runs. They played the game under protest.
"It was weird, that's for sure," said Phillies ace Roy Halladay, who pitched six innings. "You hate to see it happen like that."
With Florida moving into a new ballpark next year, the game was the last for the Phillies at the stadium that has been the Marlins' home since their first season in 1993.
Or maybe it wasn't, in the unlikely event their appeal is upheld.
"If it takes a loss away, we'll come back," manager Charlie Manuel said. "Our priority is to win the game."
The lead changed hands four times, and the Marlins came from behind for the second game in a row to take the series. They won despite stranding a franchise-record 23 runners and going 3 for 19 with runners in scoring position.
Florida left the bases loaded in each of the final three innings, and there were plenty of oddities as the crowd dwindled, including five intentional walks issued by Philadelphia in the final four innings.
But the postgame conversation in both clubhouses focused on Pence's deep drive. He hit it with the score 2-all and a runner at first in the sixth.
Pence was ruled out when a spectator wearing a Phillies jersey leaned over the outfield railing and tried to catch the ball with his Phillies cap. Marlins right fielder Bryan Petersen tried to make the catch, but his glove brushed the fan's cap, and the ball deflected to the warning track for an apparent double that put runners at second and third with none out.
Both managers came onto the field to complain. Manuel thought the hit was a home run, and the Marlins' Jack McKeon wanted Pence called out. Following the video review, the umpires sided with McKeon.
Manuel argued and was ejected.
After a 12-minute delay, play resumed and Raul Ibanez hit a double, but the Phils didn't score in the inning.
The fan involved was Alex Dicandio, a college student in Tampa. His take on the ruling?
"It should have been a home run," he said.
Manuel said he protested because the play should not have been reviewable, with replays used only to rule on home runs. Crew chief Joe West said calling for a replay was appropriate because the Phillies argued the deep fly was a homer.
"Once we look at the replay, we have to use all the evidence that replay gives us," West said.
Manuel contended he didn't request a replay review.
"Why they reviewed it, I don't know," he said. "You can't review a defensive play."
Said Pence: "I'm just confused about it. All I know I hit a ball that didn't get caught and I was called out for it. I've never seen it before."
McKeon said the bottom line was that the umpires' final ruling was correct.
"They were wrong if they misinterpreted the rule," he said. "But they got the play right, so I don't see how it could be overturned."
As a result, the teams were still going at it two hours later. The Marlins loaded the bases against David Herndon (1-3) with one out in both the 12th and 13th inning but failed to score, then benefited from his wildness in the 14th.
Emilio Bonifacio led off the inning with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice. After Greg Dobbs was intentionally walked, Gaby Sanchez lined out. Logan Morrison also received an intentional walk before Cameron walked on a 3-1 pitch.
Herndon's take on the afternoon: "Stuff happens."
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
