Muncy admits to a 'little acting' during controversial play in 9th
Max Muncy plays in Hollywood, so of course he'd bring a dramatic performance to the diamond.
Muncy was at the center of a bizarre ninth-inning play that turned Saturday's contest into a win for his Los Angeles Dodgers. With one out in the ninth, the Yankees' Brett Gardner barreled over Muncy at second base, and the All-Star appeared to be seriously hurt for a moment. While that happened, Gleyber Torres rounded third to score the tying run.
However, home plate umpire Gabe Morales sent Torres back to third, with the ump saying time had been called before the runner started toward home.
Both the Yankees and Dodgers challenged different aspects of the controversial play. Ultimately, Gardner was ruled safe, and Torres remained at third where he was stranded, and the Dodgers won 2-1.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Muncy was able to finish the game after the collision. During the postgame scrum, he admitted to slightly embellishing his injury with a little "soccer" move, an action he took to ensure the umpire would call time and prevent Torres from tying the game.
"He still got me good, it still hurt, so it wasn't entirely fake, but there might have been a little acting class in there," Muncy said, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen played an accidental role in the charade too, throwing up his hands after seeing Muncy on the ground. That action led to Morales signaling the play dead.
"Once I saw Muncy went down, I called timeout right away," Jansen told ESPN's Marly Rivera. "The home plate umpire gave me time. I didn't see when Torres took off."
But as Muncy's acting exploits and Jansen's arms saved the day for L.A., the Yankees were left steaming in the visitor's clubhouse. Manager Aaron Boone understood Jansen signaled for time, but he maintains that Torres' run should have counted.
"Gabe said he killed (the play)," Boone said, according to YES Network. "And just looking back, Kenley ... held his hands up. It looked to me like Gleyber had already started down the line with a guy down on the field."
"As far as I know, if they call time, they called time," he added.
"I didn't see an umpire call time," Torres said, according to Rivera. "I'm a little bit surprised I had to come back to third base. I don't know what's wrong with the umpires today."
Boone hinted that the Yankees have already considered trying to protest the game. However, it's unlikely they'll be allowed to file a protest, as a timeout is considered an umpire's judgment call, according to Rivera.
"We'll certainly inquire with everyone and try to get a good explanation," Boone said.
The Yankees and Dodgers, baseball's best teams, will complete their three-game series on Sunday night at Chavez Ravine.