Pitch clock violation ends Braves-Red Sox spring sport in tie

Cal Conley of the Atlanta Braves thought he had simply gained the sport with a two-out, bases-loaded walk-off stroll on Saturday. He took a number of steps towards first base, bat nonetheless in hand, when umpire John Libka jumped out from behind the plate and indicated strike three.

Game over. Conley could not consider it. Neither may his teammates. Fans booed.

Welcome to 2023, the place baseball’s new guidelines designed to enhance tempo of play are coming quick at everybody, significantly the gamers.

The most dramatic second of the brand new pitch clock period arrived on the primary full day of spring video games, and in essentially the most dramatic situation doable. Conley, dealing with reliever Robert Kwiatkowski of the Boston Red Sox, wasn’t set within the field because the clock wound underneath eight seconds.

The penalty is an automated strike, which led to the sport in North Port, Florida, ending in a 6-6 tie. Kwiatkowski bought the strikeout after throwing solely two actual strikes.

It was a extra dramatic second than when San Diego Padres slugger Manny Machado on Friday turned the primary participant to attract a pitch clock violation when he was referred to as for an automated strike within the backside of the primary inning in opposition to Seattle as a result of he wasn’t set within the field in time.

The pitch clock is without doubt one of the new guidelines designed to hurry tempo of play. Players can have 30 seconds to renew play between batters. Between pitches, pitchers have 15 seconds with no one on and 20 seconds if there’s a baserunner. The pitcher should begin his supply earlier than the clock expires. After a pitch, the clock begins once more when the pitcher has the ball again, the catcher and batter are within the circle round residence plate and play is in any other case able to resume.