New rule on double-play slides sinks Jays

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Major League Baseball’s new rule on breaking up double plays gave Logan Forsythe and the Tampa Bay Rays a disputed 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.

With the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning, Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion hit a grounder to third base. After taking a throw from Evan Longoria for the force at second, Forsythe made an errant relay to first that appeared to allow the go-ahead run to score for the Blue Jays.

Rays manager Kevin Cash asked for a replay review, claiming Jose Bautista violated the new “Chase Utley Rule” governing slides on potential double plays.

Replay umpires in New York ruled that Bautista did i ndeed slide inside the bag to illegally hinder Forsythe. The call was changed to a game-ending doubleplay that preserved Tampa Bay’s victory.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons argued with umpires on the field before finally heading toward the clubhouse.

Major League Baseball recently changed the rule on such slides, hoping to prevent a repeat of the takeout by Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley that broke the leg of New York Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada during last year’s playoffs.

Forsythe hit an opposite-field, two-run homer in the eighth inning.

Toronto’s Aaron Sanchez, making his first start since June 5 and 12th overall, allowed one run, five hits and struck out eight over seven innings.

He began 2015 in the rotation but went on the disabled list June 15 with a right lat strain.

CHRIS O’MEARA, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Toronto pitcher Aaron Sanchez goes into his windup against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Fla. Sanchez pitched seven strong innings, allowing just five hits, no walks and one earned run, but to no avail.