With the Reds having runners on second and third in the top of the eighth and the score 0-0, Matt McLain took two straight pitches, initially called balls by home plate umpire Alan Porter. Joey Bart challenged each of the calls, turning a potential 2-0 count into a correct 0-2 count.
"It was the same pitch," Bart said. "The hardest one to call is a backup curveball up and in, the hardest one to hit. It's the best pitch in the game. The first one landed there. I thought it was there. I think it was the same thing again, I ripped it again and luckily in those situations we can come out with those challenges. Always in those challenges, the bigger the situation you're always trying to pull a challenge regardless. If you think it's close, you kind of rip it there just because there's so much momentum swinging in the game late. I'm glad they were in the zone."
THE ASYLUM
With the Reds having runners on second and third in the top of the eighth and the score 0-0, Matt McLain took two straight pitches, initially called balls by home plate umpire Alan Porter. Joey Bart challenged each of the calls, turning a potential 2-0 count into a correct 0-2 count.
"It was the same pitch," Bart said. "The hardest one to call is a backup curveball up and in, the hardest one to hit. It's the best pitch in the game. The first one landed there. I thought it was there. I think it was the same thing again, I ripped it again and luckily in those situations we can come out with those challenges. Always in those challenges, the bigger the situation you're always trying to pull a challenge regardless. If you think it's close, you kind of rip it there just because there's so much momentum swinging in the game late. I'm glad they were in the zone."
McLain bounced into a 5-2 fielder's choice.
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