Anthony Rizzo vs. Angel Hernandez
Aug. 5 at Wrigley Field
Final Score: Padres 10, Cubs 6
After getting called out on strikes on an outside pitch to end the game, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo followed plate umpire Angel Hernandez up the line to complain as Hernandez began walking off the field.
Maddon called it an “egregiously” bad call and said Rizzo “definitely wanted to say something because he wanted to point out how bad the call was. …It was a tough call to end the game on.”
Most agreed it was a bad call, including Baez, who said: “It wasn’t a strike, so he has a right to be mad about it.”
Afterward, Rizzo called on Hernandez to admit he was wrong.
“It’s well-documented that I talk to a lot of umpires all of the time,” Rizzo said. “I have a lot of respect for them, every single one of them. … That being said, that call is unacceptable. Angel told me to look at it. I looked at it and he was wrong, and I would like for him to confirm that.”
In an interview the next day, Hernandez revealed he watched the video and confirmed Rizzo’s assessment of the call.
“It was a cut fastball, three inches off the plate,” he said. “Rizzo was right.”
Hernandez said it was OK for Rizzo to follow him to state his case and insisted he would admit the mistake to Rizzo the next time they spoke.
“I’m not perfect,” he said.
Rizzo commended Hernandez for admitting he was wrong.
“It’s really cool he did that,” Rizzo said. “He didn’t have to talk. He didn’t have to say anything. They’re not required to do that. It shows he’s a good person.”