Texas Rangers Fall To the Colorado Rockies, After a Controversial Illegal Slide Call In the 10th.

Photo Courtesy of Smiley N. Pool and the Dallas Morning News

This match-up between the Texas Rangers and the Colorado Rockies on Monday afternoon gave fans everything they could possibly want. Throughout this game, fans saw home runs, men tossed out at home plate, fielding errors, and a controversial call to end the game.

In this game, which went to extra innings, the Rockies outlasted the Rangers winning the game, 6-4. This back-and-forth game was decided upon review, which had fans and players all shocked. Let's fast forward to the 10th inning, and I will break down what happened for you.

With Ranger Kole Calhoun evening the score 4-4 with a solo home run to right field, this game was headed to extras. In the 10th the Rockies answered fast, by scoring two runs of their own, leading 6-4. With three outs left, the Rangers had to score two runs in the bottom of the 10th to survive or score three runs to win the ball game.

Trailing with one out in the 10th inning and two men on base, Adolis Garcia hit a grounder to Ryan McMahon, which threatened to end the game on a double play. As McMahon tossed the ball to second baseman Brendon Rodgers as Mitch Garver was sliding into second. With Garver out before he slid into second, Rodgers's throw to first was off the mark and got away from C.J. Cron. With that wild pitch, Garcia was able to take second base and move up into scoring position.

In addition to that play, Marcus Semien was able to score from second for the Rangers and cut the Rockie lead to one, making the score 6-5.

After this play, Rockies manager Bud Black challenged the play at second base, stating that Garver made illegal contact with Rodgers, which caused his wild throw to first base. After the umpires reviewed the play they made their decision based on the league's "Slide Rule."

It was said that Gaver, on his slide into second base, violated MLB Rule 6.01(j), which many refer to as the "Chase Utley" rule. This particular rule was an addition to the leagues existing Rule 6.01 which outlined interference, obstructions, and catcher collisions. Many refer to this rule as the Chase Utley rule because it came into effect in 2016 after Utley in the 2015 postseason slid into Mets infielder Ruben Tejada while trying to break up a double play, this hard slide resulted in Tejada breaking his leg. This precedent was used to determine the call in Monday's game, which ultimately gave the Rockies the victory.

MLB Rule 6.01(j) states:

"If a runner does not engage in a bona fide slide, and initiates (or attempts to make) contact with the fielder for the purpose of breaking up a double play, he should be called for interference under this Rule 6.01.

"... a slide shall not be a "bona fide slide" if a runner engages in "roll block," or intentionally initiates )or attempts to initiate) contact with the fielder be elevation and kicking his leg above the fielder's knee or throwing his arm of his upper body."

By further examining the play, the call on the field was overturned. As result, both Garver and Garcia were called out and Semien's run was wiped out as well. Just like that, this exciting game was over and the Rockies defeated the Rangers, 6-4. As the call was overturned, fans at Globe Life Field were stunned, Rockies manager Bud Black was high fiving his dugout, and Rangers manager Chris Woodward came out of the dugout with his hands held high asking the umpires for an explanation.

In the Pool Report, crew Chief Bille Miller said, "This runner did not maintain possession of the base. And he not only did not maintain possession, he came off the base and made contact with the fielder above the knee that constitutes a violation on two terms."

This ruling left many fans in Globe Life Field stunned and even shocked the Rangers players themselves.

Grover who was surprised by the ruling told the media after the game his point of view, "I was going for the bag. I hit it first. After watching the replay, there was no doubt in my mind that was a clean slide. It was a clean, hard baseball slide. That run matters. In a close game, you should expect something like this."

Even though this controversial call ended the game, Rangers manager Woodward does not think the call was the main reason his team lost.

According to Sports Illustrated Woodward had this to say, "That does not determine us losing the game. We lost that game. We didn't play well enough. We didn't make plays at the end. We didn't make pitches at the end. We had a 3-1 lead in the seventh and lost the game. That's the most important thing I can say."

This controversial call may have ended the game, but one can not doubt that this match-up gave fans all the excitement they needed. This was only the first game in the series as these two teams face off again Tuesday night.