The Colorado Rockies win the first walk-off clock violation in MBL history

CNN
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Major League Baseball History was made on Saturday when the Colorado Rockies took down the Washington Nationals in the first round Pitch clock violation.

With the game tied 7-7 in the bottom of the ninth inning, the bases loaded, the count full 3-2 and no outs, Nationals shortstop Kyle Finnegan committed a pitch clock violation, his ninth of the season.

The violation forced the winning run across the plate on the automatic ball at Coors Field in Denver to give the Rockies an 8-7 victory.

The rule was introduced before the 2023 season and stipulates that pitchers have 15 seconds to complete a delivery with the bases empty and 18 seconds with runners on the bases.

“At first, I didn’t really know what he called it because I thought I was just in time. I wasn’t,” Finnegan told reporters.

“So, it seemed to me that I was too late. Immediately, I felt terrible about letting the team down in that big spot there. Losing the game like that cannot happen.”

Ryan McMahon drew the bases-loaded out. According to MLB, it was the fourth pitch clock violation with the bases loaded but the first that resulted in an out.

“How about it? The Rockies and the Nationals are a part of history,” Rockies manager Bud Black told reporters.

National team manager Dave Martinez described it as a “difficult situation”, but said Finnegan had to be “aware” of such situations.

“It’s just slow, it is what it is. It’s closer. He burned it today, but he usually doesn’t burn it.”