New York Mets manager Terry Collins decided against challenging David Ortiz’s pinch-hit, ninth-inning double Saturday.
Why? Because giving up a double is better than giving up a home run.
Collins told reporters Sunday in New York, via ESPN.com, that he was unsure whether Ortiz’s wall-ball two-bagger — which came during a 3-1 win for the Boston Red Sox — actually cleared the fence in center field. Had Collins challenged the call of Ortiz being safe at second base, the entire play would have been open for review, meaning the Red Sox slugger could have been awarded a home run if umpires determined he had, in fact, hit one.
Collins’ cautiousness backfired, however, as replays clearly showed the ball carom off the wall and remain in the field of play.
The Red Sox reportedly came to the same conclusion after watching said replay.
#RedSox say they looked at the review of Ortiz’s ball and it was a double.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) August 30, 2015
Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon made sure Ortiz’s contributions did not cost his team, retiring Brock Holt and Pablo Sandoval to complete a scoreless ninth.
Thumbnail photo via Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports Images
