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While focused on a close play at first base, 1B Umpire Vic Carapazza found himself tackled by Royals pitcher Aroldis Chapman at the moment of truth, with Carapazza signaling himself safe and Blue Jays batter-runner Kevin Kiermaier out. Article: Facebook: Twitter: Discord: The play begin in the top of the 9th inning of the Toronto-Kansas City game at Kauffman Stadium with a ground ball from Kiermaier to Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino. Chapman had run off the mound to cover first base, but peeled off when he saw that Pasquantino intended to take the ball to the bag himself, with the Royals fielder going into a dive for the base while Toronto batter-runner Kiermaier entered into a slide. Umpire Carapazza concentrated on the play, but soon found himself lying on the ground, Royals pitcher Chapman inadvertently taking the umpire to the ground in an accidental collision. Despite the takedown, Carapazza spread his arms to signal “safe“ from a prone position on the ground, before noticing Pasquantino pointing into the Royals dugout as if to request a Replay Review/manager's challenge of the prior play, upon which time Carapazza quickly stood up and signaled the batter-runner out on the play. The umpires convened as a crew and stuck with the out call, which was ultimately not challenged (as replays indicate the first baseman's mitt or glove appeared to tag first base prior to the runner's foot touching it). One batter later, a late “time“ call from HP Umpire Jerry Layne led to a brief period of confusion as Blue Jays batter George Springer faced a 1-1 count. Royals catcher Salvador Perez had requested “Time“ with mere seconds remaining on the pitch clock, which Layne granted. With wind gusts so high in the high wind warning midwest climate, no penalty for a pitch clock violation was imposed and play resumed with a 1-1 count, as before.
