Umpires explain interference call on final play of Orioles’ win over White Sox

CHICAGO — After leading 8-2 heading into the ninth inning, the Orioles’ win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night ended with the potential winning run at the plate. It couldn’t have been weirder.

With one out and runners on first and second, Craig Kimbrel entered the game to face White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi. Kimbrel threw an 0-1 fastball at the top of the strike zone and Benintendi popped it up near second base, invoking the infield fly rule in which the batter is automatically out.

However, White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn, the runner at second, unintentionally walked into Henderson’s path to the ball while retreating to the bag. Third base umpire Junior Valentine called Vaughn out for runner’s interference, saying after the game that Vaughn hindered Henderson’s attempt to field the ball. Henderson had to run slightly around Vaughn to get to the infield but caught the ball in plenty of time.

Andrew Vaughn is called for interference after an infield fly rule. An Absolutely BRUTAL call to end the game…. pic.twitter.com/AyhCWwiHeY

— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 24, 2024

“The ball was hit and infield fly was ruled on the play,” crew chief Adrian Johnson told a pool reporter. Third base umpire Junior Valentine “came in with interference on Andrew Vaughn, the runner on second base. Actually the shortstop made contact with him, so with the interference, that’s an out. And you still have the infield fly, and that’s an out also.”

Under MLB’s definition of an infield fly in the 2024 edition of the league rule book, “The ball is alive and runners may advance at the risk of the ball being caught, or retouch and advance after the ball is touched, the same as on any fly ball.” Inference doesn’t have to be interpreted as intentional by the runner.

“There doesn’t have to actually even be contact,” Valentine said. “If he hinders the fielder in the attempt to field a batted ball, intent is not required and it’s interference.”

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he wasn’t given an explanation on the field other than seeing Valentine make the interference call. No announcement was made in the ballpark and the Orioles slowly walked onto the field to form a handshake line while White Sox manager Pedro Grifol argued with the umpire crew.

“I didn’t really know what was going on,” Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle said. “I saw Gunnar run into [Vaughn] a little bit but I didn’t know he would be out too. But I guess that’s the rule.”

Grifol said after the game that he felt there was no harm on the play, as Henderson was able to make an easy catch.

“I’m good with the way they called the play. I’m just not good with the rule,” Grifol said. “[Vaughn] didn’t make contact on purpose. He wasn’t trying to impede Gunnar from catching the fly ball.”

The Associated Press contributed to this article.