Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Fan Interference Nullifies Rockies Catcher’s Walk-Off Home Run

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Keith Brunner Jr | Last updated 4/22/24

During the first game of a doubleheader against the Seattle Mariners, the Colorado Rockies snapped their agonizing six-game losing streak. However, this win did not come at an easy cost. The Mariners and Rockies could not get any runs on the board through the first nine innings of this ballgame. During the bottom of the ninth inning, Colorado looked like they had a chance. Rockies catcher Jacob Stallings blasted a pitch off of Mariners reliever Ryne Stanek. Stallings thought he had a double, at least or even a walk-off homer, with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. After a replay review, Stallings was called out due to fan interference. Sunday afternoon’s doubleheader opener was a punch to the guy.

Jacob Stallings’ walk-off home run is not.

Fan interference wipes one off the board and Mariners-Rockies head to the 10th.

Colorado is stunned. pic.twitter.com/dJE2W3XWVs

— Patrick Lyons (@PatrickDLyons) April 21, 2024

“I was hoping for the best and I thought it might have been a homer off the bat,” Stallings said. “I wasn’t really sure what was going on especially when I saw the ball come back on the field, so I just thought it hit the fence or something.”

Fan Interference Kills Walk-off Homer Run

A closer view of the play showed that the fan appeared to reach over the fence and obstruct Dylan Moore as he went for the ball. An argument could be made that Moore wouldn’t catch the ball, yet it’s hard to tell from the camera range. Colorado did eventually win the home, however. The victory snapped a season-worst six-game losing streak for the Rockies. At 5-17, the club has the worst record in the National League. They have yet to win consecutive games or a series this season.

If their season wasn’t bad enough, starting with their embarrassing 16-1 Opening Day loss, then a team’s staff member getting caught in the cockpit of a United Airlines flight, and the Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland being used as a pinch runner eventually going down with an injury after a scary collision at home plate. Colorado will certainly hit a new low within their franchise’s history. But Sunday’s win in the first game of the doubleheader was a high note for their season.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: