MIAMI — ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ always a little heartwarming when a rookie makes a play that changes the outcome of a game, especially when it ends a losing streak. Emil Jimenez was that hero for the Twins on Wednesday.
Who?
OK, Jimenez is not a ballplayer, but an umpire, promoted to the majors full-time this spring. His play on Kyle Stowers’ sixth-inning line drive, however, was just as critical to preserving the Twins’ 2-1 victory over the Marlins as anything the guys in Minnesota uniforms pulled off.
While standing on the edge of the infield grass — thatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ oddly important — Jimenez tried to jump out of the way of that hard-hit ball, but it clipped his left foot as it whizzed by. As Jesus Sanchez, who had opened the inning with a double, rounded third base and headed for the plate, Jimenez waved his arms and declared the play dead.
Stowers was awarded first base and credited with a single, but Sanchez … well, letÃÛèÖÊÓƵ let rule 5.06(c)(6) explain why the certain game-tying run didn’t count.
“The ball becomes dead when a fair ball touches an umpire before it has passed an infielder other than the pitcher; runners advance, if forced.â€
Sanchez wasn’t forced, and though he would have scored easily, he had to return to second base. The Marlins protested, the sparse crowd at LoanDepot Park booed, but the ruling stood.
And the Twins’ three-game losing streak ended.
Oh, it took a few more big plays and pitches, but the bizarre break that was JimenezÃÛèÖÊÓƵ awkwardness on his feet was the most memorable event of the night. Given that reprieve, reliever Brock Stewart struck out Eric Wagaman to end the inning without a run.
ItÃÛèÖÊÓƵ the second time in four seasons that a ball striking an umpire has preserved a Twins lead, in both cases at 2-1. In San Diego in July 2022, a seventh-inning line drive struck veteran crew chief Jerry Layne, forcing the umpires to send C.J. Abrams back to third base.
Give Harrison Bader a save in this one.
An inning later, Louie Varland surrendered three consecutive sharply hit one-out singles in the seventh, but Bader picked up the third one and made a perfect throw, easily beating Brooklyn Park native Connor Norby to the plate to prevent another game-tying run.
Danny Coulombe then walked Heriberto Hernandez to load the bases, but Otto Lopez ended the inning with a would-be grand slam that fell just a few feet short, caught by Bader on the warning track next to the foul pole.
All that good fortune allowed the Twins to win despite scoring only twice — though that seems like an offensive deluge after back-to-back shutouts.
Byron Buxton singled to open the game, moved to third base on a wild pitch and Willi CastroÃÛèÖÊÓƵ single, and scored on Brooks LeeÃÛèÖÊÓƵ sacrifice fly.
The Marlins tied the score on Stowers’ second home run in two nights, a ball into the right-field seats that no umpire could interfere with.
And the Twins bounced back with three straight hits in the fourth inning, Carlos CorreaÃÛèÖÊÓƵ single scoring Castro with what turned out to be the decisive run. It made a winner of Simeon Woods Richardson, who allowed only one hit besides Stowers’ homer in five innings, striking out three.
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