Angel Hernandez Blew Another Obvious, Crucial Call And It Has To Be A Prank At This Point, Right?

Getty Image

Another day, another week, another month, another call blown by Angel Hernandez.

The worst umpire in Major League Baseball was up to his old tricks late on Friday night as the Rangers battled back from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Twins 6-5. It was an exhilarating game, anchored by the home team’s six-run fifth inning.

However, it was marred by a terrible call in the ninth inning. Hernandez, of course, was the culprit.

Over the course of the last 22 years in the MLB, the 60-year-old umpire has become a household name for all of the wrong reasons. Hernandez consistently makes egregiously bad calls, as he did to begin the season and as he did again last month.

It’s really baffling how he is still around, but he is.

Friday’s game between Minnesota and Texas went to the ninth inning as a one-run game. The Twins, behind by one in the top half, sent Byron Buxton to plate as the leadoff man.

With nobody on and no outs, Buxton knocked what appeared to be a single down the third base line. It bounced off of the infield dirt, off of Rangers third baseman Charlie Culberson’s arm and toward the dugout.

There was a decent shot that Buxton could have stretched it to a two-bagger, but it was at least a leadoff single. Until it wasn’t.

Hernandez called Buxton’s easy base knock foul.

In real time, it looked to be a fair ball. On the replay, it was confirmed as such. And it wasn’t particularly close. It was very fair.

But Hernandez called it dead. The play was not reviewable.

Buxton went back to the box where he proceeded to strikeout. Two quick outs later and the game was over.

Hernandez once again managed to blow a crucial call in a big spot. Minnesota would have had the leadoff man aboard — perhaps in scoring position — but didn’t.

Of course, the jokes were endless.

https://twitter.com/TravisSMcClain/status/1545617159103152128?s=20&t=twsx4HVREk4ghgXCyi3rZQ

Death, taxes, Angel Hernandez up to no good.