We are often reminded about how baseball is a game of inches.
Whether it means being able to pull down a lined shot for a jumping grab, robbing a home run, making a diving catch, or just barely beating somebody to first base, it always seems to be a matter of inches.
We were reminded of that again on Monday night, as the Cleveland Guardians barely held off the Kansas City Royals when the game ended on an overturned call at first base.
Emmanuel Clase found himself in a footrace with Royals first baseman Nick Pratto and on a bang-bang play, Pratto was initially ruled safe.
But the Guardians challenged and somehow, the umpires overturned the call.
Guardians Win A Wild One
Baseball truly is a game of inches, and we were reminded of that once again last night.
It’s a surprise that the call was even overturned.
One would think that it would be too close to overturn, as the Guardians’ broadcast booth alluded to.
But in a complete stroke of luck, the call went the Guardians way, and Cleveland managed to snap a five-game losing skid and keep their hold on first place in the American League Central division.
That sure is a crazy way to end a ballgame.
But it could turn out to be a nice little momentum builder for the Guardians, who had been slumping just a bit.
Fortunately for them, the Minnesota Twins lost to the New York Yankees, thus allowing the Guardians to retake sole possession of first place.
We’ll see if they can build off of that going forward.
A win like that can energize a ballclub.
The Guardians continue their series with the Royals tonight.
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