The Tampa Bay Rays took a half-game lead on the Boston Red Sox thanks to their 2-1 victory in Boston last night, but they got a little help from the officiating crew at Fenway before doing so.
In the bottom of the eighth inning with the Red Sox down a run, Daniel Nava attempted to tag up and score on a fly ball to left field. Sam Fuld made the catch and fired a toss towards home plate, where Nava appeared to slide in safely and beat the tag.
However, home plate umpire Jerry Meals called Nava out, ending the inning and taking away the tying run from the Sox, much to the displeasure of the home Fenway crowd.
Meals later apologized for making the wrong call, but I’m sure it’s not much solace for John Farrell (who was ejected immediately following the call) and the Sox, who still currently sit in second place.
