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Overturned call seals Brewers' victory in ninth

Giants win earlier challenge in third inning to give Pence an infield single

MILWAUKEE -- A successful challenge from Brewers manager Ron Roenicke in the ninth inning sealed a 4-3 victory over the Giants on Tuesday night as the overturned call produced the final out of the game.

The challenge came with two outs and Hunter Pence on first base after drawing a walk from Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez. Joe Panik hit a ground ball to second baseman Rickie Weeks, but with Pence advancing from first to second, Weeks was unable to charge the ball and had to wait for it to reach him, resulting in a close play at first.

First-base umpire Hal Gibson initially ruled Panik safe, but after a review, the call was overturned to end the game.

"I thought he was definitely out, but with replay, you can't see everything clearly, you don't make the call," Roenicke said. "They got the call right. He was out. But you couldn't see, in slow motion, his foot touching the bag when the ball was in the glove, but you could see in one of the angles that he was out."

Had the "safe" call on Panik remained intact, the Giants would have had runners on first and second base with Brandon Belt due up.

"I just don't see how it got overturned. It was so close," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "... But they did, and that's the game."

Bochy believed that none of the multiple replay angles definitely proved Panik was out. "You always hear that word 'conclusive,'" Bochy said.

 

It marked the second time this year that an overturned call concluded a Giants defeat. On May 6 at Pittsburgh, umpires overturned an initial "out" ruling when Buster Posey tagged Starling Marte at home plate.

The Brewers' replay came after the Giants had successfully challenged a third-inning call, resulting in an infield hit for Pence.

Facing Brewers right-hander Jimmy Nelson with two outs, Pence hit a grounder up the middle that shortstop Jean Segura managed to grab. Segura whirled in a 360-degree motion and made a one-hop throw to first base, prompting an out call from umpire Hal Gibson.

The call was overturned when a video review showed that Pence's foot hit the bag at about the same time Segura's throw hit the dirt.

Caitlin Swieca is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Haft-Baked Ideas, and follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat.
Read More: Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Hunter Pence, Francisco Rodriguez, Joe Panik, Rickie Weeks