Automated Balls and Strikes dramatically changed the outcome of Thursday’s 17-2 rout of the Diamondbacks by the Braves.
Second baseman Ozzie Albies successfully challenged the seventh pitch of his at-bat, which was a full-count pitch to work a walk in what turned into a massive eight-run outburst for Atlanta.
“I’m happy they have that system,” Albies told reporters postgame. “That changed the whole game.”
Diamondbacks pitcher Ryne Nelson had a tough time in the fifth inning, but nearly escaped the frame before an error by Nolan Arenado botched a potentially inning-ending double play and blew the game up.
The eight runs go up on the scoreboard, but not on Nelson’s stat sheet, as all runs were unearned.
Though the error wouldn’t have mattered if Albies was punched out by home plate umpire Malachi Moore, and ABS didn’t save him from a strikeout.
Albies was boastful when the pitch was called a strike, challenging it immediately and walking down to first base knowing it would be a walk.
The ball was 1.1 inches out of the strike zone according to ABS, as it was up and away from the plate.
Diamondbacks manager Tony Lovullo seemed to think that Nelson lost his composure after losing the strikeout in the inning.
“We’re still learning to control our emotions,” Lovullo told reporters postgame. “You’ve got to get back on the mound and get ready to compete as fast as possible. So whether it did or didn’t [affect him mentally], I haven’t had a chance to talk to him, but I think it’s got to be tough.”
“You never know what these things are going to lead to,” Braves manager Walt Weiss added postgame. “Sometimes they seem so innocent at the time. But all that stuff led to eight runs.”
