An overzealous Colorado Rockies fan nearly cost his team a win on Sunday in Denver by interfering with a Seattle Mariners outfielder on a would-be walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.
With two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth, Colorado's Jacob Stallings hit a drive to deep left field that was initially ruled a double, but initially appeared to be a home run.
But, after a replay review, it was determined the ball deflected off the glove of a fan reaching over the wall, interfering with the outstretched arm of Seattle left fielder Jonatan Clase. As a result, Stallings was ruled out and the game went to extra innings.
The play ignited an immediate debate online, where fans were split over the interference call.
Curiously, Mariners' broadcasters Aaron Goldsmith and Mike Blowers sided against the umpires on the cal.
The Rockies thought they had a walk off home run but instead this was ruled an out due to fan interference 🤯
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 21, 2024
(via @TalkinBaseball_)pic.twitter.com/oqHvsF5Fxx
A fan interferes with the ball above Seattle Mariners left fielder Jonatan Clase (5) in the ninth
Mariners slugger Jacob Stallings and manager Bud Black argue against the interference call
Mariners' broadcasters Aaron Goldsmith and Mike Blowers were quite convinced the review wouldn't go this way.
'This ballgame is over,' Blowers said. 'There's no case to be made for the fan interfering with Dylan, is there?'
'I don't think so,' Goldsmith answered.
In the end, it didn't matter as Ezequiel Tovar and Ryan McMahon each hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Rockies over the Mariners 2-1 in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.
The victory snapped a season-worst six-game losing streak for the Rockies (5-16), who entered the day with the worst record in the National League and the worst 20-game start in franchise history.
McMahon's game-ending single sent home Charlie Blackmon for the fifth walk-off RBI of his career.
Seattle broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the 10th, when J.P. Crawford's RBI single brought home automatic runner Jorge Polanco.
Justin Lawrence (1-1) earned the win. Andrés Muñoz (1-2) took the loss.
Colorado Rockies' Ryan McMahon, center, is doused by teammate Charlie Blackmon, right
McMahon's walk-off RBI single pushed Colorado by Seattle in the first game of a doubleheader
Tovar had three hits for the Rockies, including his RBI single that tied it 1-all in the 10th.
The teams spent much of the afternoon failing to capitalize on excellent scoring opportunities. Through the first seven innings, Seattle and Colorado had combined to leave 18 runners on base. They were 1 of 18 with runners in scoring position.
Colorado starter Cal Quantrill gave up three hits while striking out four across six scoreless innings. He was matched for much of his outing by Seattle starter George Kirby, who struck out seven and walked one in five shutout innings.
The Mariners entered on a tear at the plate, scoring 24 runs during their four-game win streak. Julio Rodríguez had two hits for Seattle, his fourth straight multi-hit game.
The doubleheader was scheduled to make up Friday's postponement that was caused by bad weather.
