Basallo Just Made MLB History With One Swing of the Challenge Flag
Samuel Basallo did something no big leaguer had ever done before. The Baltimore Orioles catcher became the first player in MLB history to end a game with a successful automated ball-strike challenge, and it happened in the most clutch moment possible: the top of the ninth inning with the Orioles up 8-3 against Texas.
Here's how it went down. Albert Suárez was pitching for Baltimore when plate umpire Manny Gonzalez called a 1-2 pitch to Evan Carter a ball with two outs. Basallo threw the red flag. The replay came back, and most of the ball was catching the upper outside corner of the strike zone. Strike. Game over. Orioles win.
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What's wild is Basallo's confidence in that moment. The kid had two challenges left and didn't hesitate.
"I think we had two at that point," the 21-year-old said through an interpreter. "I thought why not use it? Better to use it and see what happens instead of holding onto it."
Basallo wasn't just clutch with the challenge, either. He ripped a 437-foot homer on Wednesday, showing real power at the plate. After the challenge worked, he headed straight to the mound to hug Suárez, who had just gotten his first save since 2017.
ABS Is Here, and It's Already Changing Games
This is the first season the automated ball-strike system is being used in regular-season games, and it's already making headlines. The Orioles actually used another crucial ABS challenge on Sunday against Minnesota, turning a full-count walk into a strikeout to help secure an 8-6 win. That one got heated enough that Twins manager Derek Shelton got ejected, thinking the challenge signal didn't come fast enough.
Even Suárez, the 36-year-old veteran pitcher who came back to the majors after Zach Eflin left Tuesday's start with elbow discomfort, has come around on the technology. "I think I like it more after what happened today," Suárez said with a smile.
The Orioles host their next game with a bullpen that got some rest thanks to Suárez eating three innings. Watch what happens next time Baltimore gets a close call at the plate.
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