Sox call out ump

C.B. Bucknor name mud again

When an umpire becomes a focal point in a postseason game, it’s usually not a good sign. So it was with first base umpire C.B. Bucknor in Game 1 of the ALDS between the Red Sox [team stats] and Angels last night.

Though they didn’t directly impact the Angels’ 5-0 shutout, Bucknor appeared to have gotten two calls wrong. Third baseman Mike Lowell and shortstop Alex Gonzalez were charged with throwing errors on the plays, but replays indicated it was Bucknor who made the miscues.

In the fourth inning, Howie Kendrick hit a grounder that Gonzalez gloved, sprawling to the ground. Gonzalez got to his feet quickly but threw wildly to first base, pulling Kevin Youkilis [stats] to the home-plate side of the bag. Youkilis caught the throw and clearly applied the tag to Kendrick a step before the Angel came down on the bag, but Bucknor ruled him safe.

Sox manager Terry Francona came racing out of the dugout to protest the call, to no avail.

“He said I tagged him,” recounted Youkilis, “but he said (Kendrick) was on the base when I tagged him. I didn’t think that was possible. I guess guys saw the replay, but other than that, I don’t know.”

Two innings later, with Kendrick again the batter, Lowell fielded a sharp grounder and threw to first. Youkilis came off the bag to catch the throw and appeared to have gotten his foot on the bag a split-second before Kendrick reached the base. Once again, Bucknor ruled the runner safe and once again, the Red Sox howled in protest.

Click here to read the full article – By Sean McAdam of BostonHerald.com

Boston Red Sox Jackets
and other Red Sox Apparel