September 4th, 2018 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka During the course of a 162-game baseball season, every team is going to be the recipient of blown calls by umpires; it is as certain as death and taxes. And even though logic dictates that it all evens out in the end, it always seems that our own favorite team, regardless of who it is, comes out on the short end of the stick.
Such was the case on Monday night when, in the bottom of the ninth inning, a severely blown call by first base umpire Ryan Blakney – a vacation reliever – not only cost the Dodgers the game, it also knocked them out of first place in the closest divisional race in all of baseball.
The nightmare began when Dodgers right-handed reliever Kenta Maeda gave up a devastating three-run home run with one out in the top of the ninth inning to New York Mets pinch-hitter Brandon Nimmo that turned a 1-1 tie into a 4-1 Mets lead on an absolute meatball right down the middle on a 2-2 count. And even though the Dodgers managed to escape without allowing any additional runs, the damage had clearly been done.
Oops.
(Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)
With their backs to the wall in their half of the ninth, Dodgers right fielder Alex Verdugo led off the inning with a sharp single up the middle, giving the Dodgers a pulse, albeit only slight.
And then it happened.
Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger absolutely smoked a line drive down the right field line past diving Mets first baseman Wilmer Flores into the right field corner for what was clearly a double, on which the extremely fast Verdugo undoubtedly would have scored.
…would have.
Even though everyone else on the planet clearly saw that Bellinger’s liner had kicked up chalk, thereby making it a fair ball, first base umpire Ryan Blakney did not and erroneously ruled it a foul ball.
Not only did first base umpire Ryan Blakney blow the call, he blew a call that was literally five feet in front of him. It was also not the first time that the 33-year-old vacation relief umpire has been the center of controversy.
(Video capture courtesy of SNLA)
As expected, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts immediately challenged the call, and Blakney and crew chief Mark Wegner put on the headsets to New York.
In less than a minute it was confirmed that Blakney had blown the call. And even though Verdugo was awarded third base and Bellinger first, the 33-year-old umpire had altered history, as Bellinger would have easily made it to second base and the speedy Verdugo would have, in all likelihood, scored.
After Blakney’s severely blown call was overturned, crew chief Mark Wegner awarded Bellinger first base instead of second base (which he easily would have reached) and Verdugo third base.
(Video capture courtesy of SNLA)
But wait, there’s more!
With no outs and runners at the corners (instead of second and third), Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal flied out to Mets center fielder Austin Jackson, allowing Verdugo to tag up and score. Bellinger, however, was not able to advance to second base, where he rightfully should have already been.
With the score now 4-2, recent hero Matt Kemp came to the plate to pinch-hit for right-hander Ryan Madson (who had replaced Maeda after Nimmo’s devastating home run). But there would be no late-inning magic from the 33-year-old / 13-year MLB veteran this time. Instead, Kemp grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play … a double play that never would have happened if Bellinger had been on second base but for Blakney’s blown call.
Although we will never know if the Dodgers might have been able to pull off a miracle comeback were it not for Blakney’s blown call, what we do know is that they had done exactly that in their two previous games.
We also now know that umpire Ryan Blakney sucks and that if Major League Baseball does not do something about his gross incompetence, we could very well be witnessing the emergence of the next Angel Hernandez, Joe West, or C. B. Bucknor.
It’s your move, MLB.
Posted in 
I’m a Dodgers fan. This article is very bias and lacking truth. The ball DID NOT go to the right field corner. It bounced directly to the right fielder before it got anywhere near the corner. Also Verdugo was going back to first as the ball went went by first, making it questionable he would have even made it to 3rd. No way he definitely scores as this article implies.
You’re not a baseball fan if you don’t believe verdugo would have been on third. With bellingers speed, it would have been a double. It’s irrelevant, the dodgers have multiple opportunities that entire game. Lead off double and Puig ends the scoreless inning with a GDP. Bottom line is, a ball hit down the line gets verdugo on third regardless of if he was going back to first.
I also disagree with 21, but a personal attack is not necessary. Agreeing with other fans is not the criteria for being a baseball fan.
Let’s please keep it civil.
Why don’t you blame the pitcher for giving up 3-run home run. Even with right call, you still have no idea what could happen. What if Verdugo gets thrown out at home plate, or Bellinger at third.
It was clearly a blown call that effected the outcome of the game. Temporary umpires should not be allowed to work these crucial games…instead games that do not play into the playoff picture. This falls under the commissioner’s role for correcting this….should not have happened in the first place! Let the players decide each and every game down the stretch in meaningful games…not the umpires. Most umpires get the call right when the ball hits the chalk….unfortunately not this umpire. Freese was on deck to represent the tying run at the plate…..an expensive acquisition of at least 1.2 million including the buyout for next year. This game should have been played under protest.
Why not blame Robert’s failure to manage a base full of runners with no outs time and time again , in tight games and continuing to come up with zip,nada,nothing , to many times during his managing stint,our team loses when he constantly put out bullpen in harm’s way with tight low scoring games , we lead the MLB in August in SB but few scored too many actually were stranded , small ball wins ,wish he would use the speed he has at his fingers , just seems to waste to many opportunities when they present themselves, makes the stressed bullpen walk a thin line to many times
That always happens too the dodgers mlb is a fixed sport mlb decide a who’s going too win
Mario, you sir are an idiot. It’s not fixed. Too many people would have to be involved for something like that. Cant keep that secret. Someone, at some point always talks. Especially in today’s world, a Kardashian farts, and it’s on TMZ that evening. So fixed? Uhh no. Back away from the keyboard
Kardashians fart?
The first thing I look at in any conspiracy theory is how many would have had know, or have good informantion regarding, the truth. As you said, somebody always talks.
Quick! Somebody call the WAAAAAAAHmbulence.
Well I guess the law of averages caught up to the Dodgers when it comes to the Mets, after beating them 12 times in a row. Now hopefully the Dodgers can go back to winning ways in tonight’s game.
My opinion falls between your’s and 21’s. I do think that, considering Verdugo’s lack of a good jump, there is reasonable doubt that he would have scored. I do think that Verdugo would have made it to third without question and Cody would have been on second. The umpires placement made absolutely no sense. Even first and second, though incorrect, would have been more reasonable.
Blakney’s incompetence is inexcusable. A trained and experienced umpire that doesn’t know to look for the puff of chalk? He needs to be in another line of work.
Oh well, I figured the Dodgers to finish the season, including post-season, 39-0. I reckon I’ll have to settle for 38-1.
Obvious blown call followed by an inexplicable decision to put Verdugo at 3b but keeping Bellinger at 1b. It seems to me that a better case could be made for either Verdugo at 2b and Bellinger at 1b, or Verdugo at 3b and Bellinger at 2b; as if umpire crew and possibly NY decided on a middle ground as a compromise to both teams. I was surprised that Roberts did not go out and ask for an explanation why Bellinger was not awarded 2b, frankly to the point of being thrown out of game.
Dave Roberts lost the World Series the way he managed the bullpen and he lost this game the way he managed the bullpen. Despite Kenta not showing last year’s form and giving up runs in his last few appearances, Roberts sticks with him and does NOT do his righty-righty lefty-lefty matchup. Of course he gives up a 3-run bomb, of course.
This year’s team isn’t good enough to overcome Roberts’ general incompetence. All the magic that disguised it is gone, all used up. Knowing this team’s season-long inability to hit in the clutch, he should have started the runners to get out of Puig’s double play and then Kemp’s. Instead, he was managing like a fan, hoping Kemp had another big swing in him.
Like your style, Mr. Cervenka.
Cheers!
Thank you.
Not being bound by today’s journalistic ‘political correctness’ that often camouflages the truth, and also being able to present a fan’s perspective (which reporters and beat writers are not permitted to do), I get to “call ’em like I see ’em,” without repercussions from the Dodgers or an editor from one of the major publications.
That being said, I do have to use some restraint, as I do not want to have my media credentials yanked.
Thanks again for the kind words and for checking in with us.