Overturned call ends MLB game
ATLANTA — Brian McCann knew it was a homer.
So did the Florida Marlins.
But the only guys who mattered were wearing blue, and they needed to see a replay.
Upon further review, it was a win for the Atlanta Braves.
For the first time in baseball history, a game ended on an overturned call after the umpires took a look at the video of McCann's drive that ricocheted back onto the field in the ninth inning Sunday.
Turns out, the ball bounced off the top of the outfield wall and struck a second barrier — a clear home run. After just 86 seconds, crew chief Tim McClelland popped out of the tunnel alongside the Florida dugout, looked toward McCann and twirled his right index finger.
McCann, who had stopped at second on what the umps initially ruled a double, completed his triumphant jog around the bases to give the Braves a stunning 7-6 win.
"I knew it was a homer," McCann said. "I was telling Tim McClelland, 'I promise you it's a homer, I heard it hit the back."'
The use of replay to get a crucial call right will surely renew debate over whether baseball should expand its use of replay for rulings such as the one that deprived Detroit's Armando Galarraga of a perfect game this season.
For now, the Braves are just glad that a limited video system helped them pull out their majors-leading 23rd win in the final at-bat and maintain a two-game lead in the NL East over the Philadelphia Phillies.
