Neither Nestor Cortes Jr., nor Aaron Boone, nor Athletics Manager Bob Melvin, who was released after Little’s questionable third call (at best) in the third in just the first three starts of the loss to 3-2 Yankees vs. A at Oakland Coliseum. .
Little made a call to Cortes that allowed A to score their second run at the end of the second inning. Both Cortes and first baseman Anthony Rizzo disagreed with the call-up.
“At first, I didn’t know what I was doing,” said the left of the Cortes. “I usually hang out [my leg] and try to read the corridor. I was very surprised that the third base referee made the call.
He even got into a heated argument with the referee of the house, Tony Randazzo, when he left the field after the entrance.
Things got worse for Little at the end of the third.
Starling Mars advanced and got the second by a two-base throw error from third baseman Rougned Odor. Mars tried to steal the third and appeared to be out of Gary Sanchez’s throw. Little, however, declared Mars safe and the Yankees could not challenge the call because they had already used their challenge at the end of the second, when Chad Pinder of Oakland overtook Aaron Judge’s throw to second base. for double.
This left Boone even more upset by the apparent call.
But Little was not finished.
Yan Gomes hit a cover against DJ LeMahieu, who was moved to the left side of the second. LeMahieu threw to third to double Mars. The smell was out of the bag on the third, which meant Mars should have been safe, but Little called him and playback confirmed the third call from the entrance.
Melvin was expelled for arguing the call after the repeat sentence.
“I wanted to talk to the rehearsal team, but they wouldn’t let me do that,” Melvin said.
Boone said Yankees instant replay coordinator Brett Weber told him the play seemed “weird” and that there might not be enough video evidence to cancel the call, which turned out to be the case. .
Little could be seen Cortes laughing after the play, and then he was seen laughing with another call.
“I was frustrated with what was going on during the first few innings,” the left said of his reaction. “I have a feeling he had a rough first few innings at third base.”