PROTEST? TOO MUCH
Bosox gripe over flucky 11th-inning paly - then fall to Yanks anyway
BOSTON — The Yankees’ 4-1, 16-inning win over the Red Sox took a strange turn in the top of the 11th Saturday.
With Matt Holliday (whose ninth-inning solo home run had tied the game at 1-1) at first and no one out, Jacoby Ellsbury grounded to first baseman Mitch Moreland.
Moreland quickly fired to second to force Holliday, but Holliday stopped and went back to first, sliding into the bag just as Ellsbury and Moreland also arrived.
The ensuing pileup caused the throw from shortstop Xander Bogaerts to get away from Moreland.
Ellsbury was called safe, but Boston manager John Farrell argued interference should have been called on Holliday, since he was out of the play when he went back to the bag.
The umpires then looked at the play, but only for a rules check — and the original call stood, leaving Ellsbury on first.
“[Farrell] wanted [Holliday] called out for interference running the bases and we told him, ‘ No we can’t,’ ” crew chief Gary Cederstrom said.
The Red Sox played the game under protest following the delay, which lasted nearly five minutes.
“I thought [Moreland] touched [first] base, but he didn’t,’’ Holliday said. “I didn’t know he didn’t touch the base.”
“He made a read,” Joe Girardi said. “He’s in the baseline. He didn’t Reggie it.”
Girardi was referring to the infamous play by Reggie Jackson in the 1978 World Series when Jackson broke up a double play by throwing his hip in the way of a throw.
The Yankees didn’t score in the 11th, though, as Chase Headley lined out to right and Didi Gregorius lined to short to end the inning.
The Yankees scored three runs in the 16th to win the game.