WATCH: Orioles turn triple play after umpire decides not to call infield fly rule
No infield fly was called as J.J. Hardy missed a fly going toward LF, and the O's end up with three outs
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Orioles were facing a bases-loaded, no-out situation as they hoped to keep the Red Sox close enough for a late comeback from the 5-2 Boston lead. A Jackie Bradley pop up was sent to shallow left field and eventually was whiffed by shortstop J.J. Hardy. It ended up a triple play.
Observe:
So...the @Orioles turn a triple play! #MLBNShowcasepic.twitter.com/xJiyAeT3YI
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 3, 2017
The umpire can clearly be seen telling Red Sox manager John Farrell that infield fly rule was not called. I can see the argument that it should have been called, though the ball ended up over Hardy's head and his back was facing home plate when the ball landed. It looked like he was camped at first, but wind started to take it out and the ball ended up one of those "tweeners" where an argument can be made either way.
So with no infield fly rule called, where were the three outs?
- Mitch Moreland was tagged at second base before he got back to the bag.
- Remember, no infield fly rule and the ball wasn't caught, so there's still a force at second base with Dustin Pedroia having held at first. Jonathan Schoop steps on second.
- Schoop throws to first, where Bradley never reached because he apparently assumed it was either an infield fly rule or the ball would be caught.
That's three.
The play wouldn't end up impacting the result of the game, though, as the Red Sox would hold on, 5-2.
















