A first-of-its-kind fear was realized over the weekend in a Major League Baseball game between the Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies. In the bottom of the ninth inning on Saturday, the Nationals and Rockies were tied at 7 at Coors Field. The Rockies loaded the bases with nobody out, and appeared well on their way to winning via a walk-off.
They could've won on anything — a hit, walk, sacrifice fly, hit by pitch, wild pitch, balk, etc. — but ended up winning on something that's never ended a major league game. They won on a pitch clock violation.
With a 3-2 count, Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan took a little too long to throw the payoff pitch to Rockies infielder Ryan MacMahon. Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt jumped out of his stance, pointed to his wrist to signal a pitch clock violation, and the fans at Coors Field erupted in celebration. WALK-OFF PITCH CLOCK VIOLATION! This is the first ever walk-off pitch clock violation in history.
Major League Baseball implemented the pitch clock ahead of the 2023 season. Players adjusted quickly to avoid pitch clock violations on all but rare occasions. There are times when pitchers end up feeling rushed.
Clearly, this was one of those times. Pitchers have 15 seconds between pitches when the bases are empty and 18 seconds in between pitches with runners on base – . Finnegan, however, needed 19 seconds to throw a very important pitch in Saturday night's game.
The Rockies ended up getting the win on what is technicall.
