Umpire’s questionable decision appears to rob Dodgers star of rare feat

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres faced off in a heated game on Thursday that ended with tensions running high. The Padres managed to secure a 5-3 victory in the final game of a four-game series against their Southern California rivals, but not without some drama.

In the ninth inning, Padres player Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch, leading to both teams’ benches clearing and both managers being ejected from the game. Shortly after, Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani was also hit by a pitch, adding fuel to the fire.

However, it was an earlier moment in the game involving Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto that really got people talking. In the third inning, Yamamoto struck out Padres players Bryce Johnson and Martin Maldonado before facing Tatis. He threw strikes on the first two pitches, setting himself up for a potential immaculate inning.

An immaculate inning is when a pitcher strikes out all three batters in an inning on just nine pitches. If the third pitch to Tatis had been called a strike, Yamamoto would have achieved this rare feat. Unfortunately, the home plate umpire ruled it a ball, denying Yamamoto the opportunity to make history.

Despite the disappointment, Yamamoto managed to strike out the side and end the inning on a high note. Many spectators and even the game’s broadcast crew believed that the controversial pitch was well within the strike zone. Broadcaster Joe Davis exclaimed, “Oh no! Marvin Hudson cost him an immaculate inning!” while his partner Eric Karros added, “That wasn’t even borderline or anything… That was borderline middle-middle.”

Immaculate innings are a rare occurrence in baseball, with only 116 recorded in history. The most recent one was by Miami Marlins pitcher Cal Quantrill last month. It’s a special moment for any pitcher to achieve, and Yamamoto came close but fell just short.

Overall, the game between the Dodgers and Padres was filled with excitement and controversy, making for a thrilling matchup for both teams and fans. Despite the heated moments, both teams showed their competitive spirit and determination on the field.