Blue Jays rally while Orioles' double-play attempt negated as umps rule infielder failed to try to tag runner

The replay strategy and the Automated Balls and Strikes strategy (ABS) whitethorn beryllium a redeeming grace for immoderate players and managers but the quality constituent of shot volition ever beryllium a origin successful the crippled arsenic it was successful a crippled betwixt 2 American League East contenders.

The Toronto Blue Jays and 2nd baseman Ernie Clement whitethorn person benefited the astir from the quality facet of the crippled successful the sixth inning connected Sunday.

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Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement hits a three-run location tally during the 3rd inning against the Baltimore Orioles successful Toronto connected June 6, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)

Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela deed a chopper to Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Clement swerved to his close to debar Henderson’s tag with the infielder throwing to first, reasoning that the runner would beryllium called retired for being retired of the baseline.

Instead, 2nd basal umpire Nic Lentz ruled Clement harmless astatine second, saying that Clement was getting retired of the mode for Henderson to tract the shot alternatively of trying to debar the tag.

"The runner has the close to found his basal path, and truthful Clement had established his basal way to debar the fielder from imaginable interference," Lentz told a excavation reporter. "Even though Henderson reached retired for a tag, Clement’s basal way was already established retired there, going to the 2nd base, truthful so it was not retired of the baseline."

Henderson said the telephone was "super frustrating" and added that helium felt similar it was "not a large call."

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz argued connected the field. He said the umpires told him that Henderson didn’t bash capable to marque a tag attempt.

Toronto Blue Jays' Brandon Valenzuela is doused by teammates aft a shot crippled against the Baltimore Orioles successful Toronto connected June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)

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"I deliberation erstwhile you instrumentality your mitt retired to tag somebody, that’s an attempted tag," Albernaz said. "There’s nary regularisation astir however acold you person to widen your limb to tag somebody."

Hunter Wendelstedt said Clement moving retired of the way was a "very gentlemanly happening to do."

"He was getting retired of the mode to let the fielder to marque the play towards archetypal base," helium added.

Baltimore held a 4-2 pb with 2 outs aft the Clement calamity. But the Jays would rally.

Orioles pitcher Shane Baz had much chances to get retired of the inning. He allowed 5 runs – 1 earned – successful 5 2/3 innings of work. He yelled astatine umpires arsenic helium walked to the dugout.

"The lone crushed I’m not going to speech astir that play is due to the fact that I volition get fined," Baz said afterward. "That’s the lone reason."

Toronto Blue Jays' Brandon Valenzuela hits a location tally against the Baltimore Orioles during the eighth inning successful Toronto connected June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)

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Toronto won the game, 6-4.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.