FORT MYERS, FLA. – Major League Baseball is encouraging teams to test the expanded replay system. It sure got what it wanted Sunday during a Twins-Phillies game at Hammond Stadium that ended in a 1-1 tie after nine innings because Philadelphia ran out of pitchers.
Two plays were reviewed, taking up about three minutes of review time. Both calls were upheld. Each time, a technician came on to the field with a telephone for plate umpire Bob Davidson to speak with Fieldin Culbreth, who watched the game from a television truck in the parking lot.
"Actually it's pretty funny when the guy comes running out with a phone that looks like it's from 'Petticoat Junction,' " Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
When John Mayberry Jr., reached on Brandon Waring's errant throw in the eighth, replay was looked at to see if the ball had went out of play or not. The replay was inconclusive, and the call stood.
Mayberry went to third on a sacrifice, then took off for home when Ronny Cedeno grounded to short. Danny Santana's throw appeared to be on time, but Mayberry was called safe.
"I was 99 percent sure [Mayberry was out]," said Sean Harlin, the Twins director of major league video. Gardenhire went to Davidson and asked to have the play reviewed. Many fans booed as Davidson asked for the phone to call Culbreth.
While the first replay check lasted about 30 seconds, this one took around 2:30. One showed Mayberry safe, the other out.
The result: Play upheld because of limited footage. How can the system be tested when Hammond Stadium doesn't have all the camera angles Target Field will have?
"It's the process," Gardenhire said. "They are trying to get timing on the process. They are trying to get a feel for it."
The run tied the game. The Twins had held a 1-0 lead on Joe Mauer's RBI single in the first.
The story was Twins pitching, as they held the Phillies to two hits. Mike Pelfrey (35 pitches), Samuel Deduno (38 pitches) and Kyle Gibson (34 pitches) combined for eight shutout innings.
