Generally speaking, losing a challenge is detrimental to a team. But in Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a lost challenge was the best thing to happen to the San Francisco Giants.
The Giants were close to winning the game in the top half of the ninth inning. But a misplayed ball from Heliot Ramos helped Andy Pages get a leadoff triple for the Dodgers. Pages then scored on a sacrifice fly from Jason Heyward, tying the game. Camilo Doval retired the next two hitters, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth inning tied 3-3.
San Francisco’s Luis Matos walked to lead the inning off. The next hitter, Brett Wisely, smoked the first pitch he saw down the first base line. The ball flew over the outstretched arm of Freddie Freeman but hooked into foul territory. The Giants, though weren’t entirely sure that Freeman didn’t touch the ball (which would have made it fair) and challenged the play. Replays confirmed, though, that the call in fact was correct.
It was a foul ball and the Giants lost the challenge.