Johan Santana gives up replay grand slam
New York Mets pitcher Johan Santana throws early in the Mets' home opener against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field. (Apr. 5, 2010) Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
Umpires on Sunday overturned a call through instant replay and gave the Nationals’ Josh Willingham a grand slam in the first inning against Johan Santana of the Mets.
It wound up being all the runs the Nationals would need to sink the Mets again.
Willingham hit a long drive to centerfield that hit a second fence behind the main outfield fence to the right of the orange home-run line. The ball was called in play, however, and bounced back onto the field.
Two runs scored immediately. The Mets got the ball back to catcher Rod Barajas in time for a play on Adam Dunn at the plate, but Barajas dropped the throw before getting run over football-style by the 6-6, 287-pound Dunn.
Willingham, who was at third, started for home as the ball trickled behind the plate. Santana retrieved it and threw it to Barajas, who tagged the sliding Willingham for what was called the second out of the inning.
Nationals manager Jim Riggleman argued and the umpires went into the tunnel behind the third-base dugout to check the replay. When they came back out, crew chief Derryl Cousins made a circular motion with his right hand to indicate the call had been (correctly) changed to a home run and a 4-0 Washington lead.
Powered by former Met Livan Hernandez, the four runs were all the Nationals needed as they topped the Mets 5-2. The team has now lost four out of the last five games.
