CINCINNATI – Austin Hays represented the tying run for the Reds with one out in the eighth inning against the Mariners. Elly De La Cruz stole second base easily and a late-game rally was cooking.
Then suddenly, it all just fell apart. Hays struck out and De La Cruz was ruled out by home-plate umpire Chris Segal to end the inning.
Reds fans were confused and bewildered as they booed throughout the final inning of Cincinnati’s 5-3 loss to the Mariners at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday.
Rule 6.05 (a) (5) is what happened.
De La Cruz broke for second base as Mariners lefty reliever Gabe Speier struck out Hays with a slider. Hays’ momentum from his swing sent him over the plate as catcher Cal Raleigh threw over his head in…