Angels’ protest denied, loss to Royals stands

NEW YORK >> Major League Baseball had denied the Los Angeles Angels’ formal protest filled during their loss at Kansas City on Wednesday night.

Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre ruled on the protest Thursday.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia protested Kansas City’s 7-5 victory, claiming the Royals’ Raul Mondesi ran inside the line on a bunt single in the seventh inning that led to a throwing error and two runners scoring.

Scioscia said at the time that he was “100 percent” certain the protest would be upheld.

“It’s not a judgment call,” Scioscia said. “I would not have protested if I was not 100 percent correct on this. This is a misinterpretation of a rule. It was very clear. Phil Cuzzi, the home plate umpire, had Mondesi running inside the line in jeopardy the whole way, and stated that it’s okay because he was stepping back toward the bag, which is wrong.