Dave Roberts was animated after third base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt threw him out of the game after arguing over an interference call that changed the game on its head.
Alec Bohm started the sixth inning with a double to left, with the Phillies trailing 4-3 against the Dodgers. Brandon Marsh bunted the ball to the fielder’s choice at third base. Kike Hernandez picked up the ball and threw it into the third base, where Miguel Rojas finds hustling Bohm short. However, umpire Wendelstedt ruled the runner safe, calling an interference play on Rojas.
This led the Dodgers manager to rush from the dugout to reason with Wendelstedt over what seemed to be an “egregious missed call.” The official wasn’t having Roberts’ way, ejecting him from the game. In the post-game interview, Roberts was straightforward in addressing the situation.
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“It was an egregious missed call. It needs to be reviewable. It changed the complexion of the game. He got it wrong,” Roberts said via Doug McKain.
On a closer look at the play, it seems Rojas was fine with his movements to tag Alec Bohm and an interference call seemed off.
This was Dave Roberts’ first ejection and the 12th of his career.
Dave Roberts explains why he was ejected
After the game, Dave Roberts addressed his ejection over what unfolded on the field. Roberts wanted an explanation for the call, which Hunter Wendelstedt denied.
“It wasn’t explained to me. Hunter wasn’t about to explain the call to me. And to be fair, I was just trying to defuse the situation. As I looked at the replay, he missed the call,” Roberts said.
If Dave Roberts was right in thinking that it was a wrong call, then instead of no out, first and third, it should have been one out and runner on first.
The call seems to derail the Dodgers, as the Phillies scored five runs in the innings and eventually took the game 9-4. Kyle Schwarber was the player of the game, as he hit three home runs in the victory.
This loss also meant that the Phillies (68-46) retained their best record in the National League, which the Dodgers (66-49) were close to eclipsing.
Edited by Neha
