Royals, White Sox double challenge benefits KC

September 18th, 2016

KANSAS CITY -- The White Sox and Royals had a rare double challenge during a play at second base in the second inning of Kansas City's 10-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
With the bases loaded and one out, hit a ground ball off of White Sox starter to second baseman Carlos Sanchez, who fired to shortstop for an apparent force at second on . Hosmer clearly beat the relay throw to first, giving the Royals their fourth run as scored from third.
But Royals manager Ned Yost challenged the call at second, with Anderson looking to be off the bag when he caught Sanchez's throw, and White Sox manager Robin Ventura challenged the slide rule at second with Orlando. Video review overturned the out call at second but found there was no violation of the slide rule, although Orlando had to reach back for the base after he slid toward Anderson.
The Royals retained their challenge and the White Sox lost their challenge.
"I went over and told them I wanted to challenge the play at second," said Yost. "Then Robin called them over and said 'Look, if they challenge the play at second, I want to challenge the slide.'"
"That stuff is so vague. I didn't get it," said Ventura of the slide rule at second. "You don't really know what that is. It felt like when you slide and you can't reach the bag, that's enough for me to feel like it's not a real or bona fide slide. Again, that stuff is written in a way ... it can go either way."
Quintana escaped any further damage by starting an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play on ' grounder back to the mound. The White Sox were without a challenge, though, after 's hard-hit grounder in the third. made a diving stop on it, and with a strong throw, appeared to get Cuthbert at first. First-base umpire Toby Basner ruled Cuthbert safe.
Orlando beat 's throw home on Hosmer's single to left in the fourth, with replays showing that the fleet-footed Orlando slid in ahead of 's tag. But the White Sox had no recourse, even if they thought he was out.
"You can't challenge," Ventura said. "That's the stuff that is tough at second base. We're going back to what the rule is made for. It's to protect the guy at second base or the player that is around second base. You never know if you're going to win those, because it's vague."