Rios out on steal after Indians win challenge
Rangers outfielder initially called safe with two outs in eighth inning
ARLINGTON -- Working with a one-run lead in the eighth inning of Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Rangers, Indians manager Terry Francona challenged a call after Alex Rios stole second with two outs in the eighth inning. He was right to challenge the play, as the safe call was overturned after review.
With two outs, Rios sprinted for second base with Cleveland reliever Bryan Shaw on the mound. Tribe catcher Yan Gomes came up firing and second baseman Jason Kipnis applied the tag as Rios slid into the base.
Second-base umpire Lance Barksdale immediately ruled that Rios was safe, prompting Francona to make a slow jog across the infield to challenge the ruling. After the play was reviewed at the Replay Operations Center in New York, the call was overturned, bringing an end to the inning and the Rangers' rally.
"It's gone against us probably more than it's gone for us," Francona said, "but it's there for a reason. We know it's close. Sometimes you worry about it being enough to get it overturned -- that's probably the biggest thing."
"I thought I was safe," Rios said. "But, I guess they got it right on the replay, so there's nothing you can say or do."
Francona has had five of his 14 calls overturned via managerial challenges this season.