Red Sox don’t take long to find the value of ABS challenges
A well-timed challenge on balls and strikes can make all the difference — as Roman Anthony demonstrated in the Red Sox' season opener.
CINCINNATI — The ABS challenge system is in its infancy and for now, it remains unclear what impact it might have on Major League Baseball. That will take months, perhaps longer, to determine. But right out of the gate, the new system helped the Red Sox in a big way on Opening Day.
The Red Sox were clinging to a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds Thursday. With two out and one on and a full count on Roman Anthony, home plate umpire Dan Iassogna called Anthony out on a called third strike. Anthony, however, knew otherwise.
He immediately tapped his cap to signal a challenge, and sure enough, the ABS system showed the pitch to be a couple of inches below the strike zone. Instead of an inning-ending strikeout, Anthony took his base with a walk. Trevor Story then singled to left to score Marcelo Mayer from second base and Jarren Duran followed another run-scoring single to right.
Instead of a one-run lead to preserve for closer Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the inning, it was a three-run cushion . “It’s a different ballgame now,” said Alex Cora. “If that’s a strikeout, it’s a 1-0 game with Chappy in the game, in this ballpark.