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The repetition system and the Automated balls and strokes system. (ABS) may be a saving grace for some players and coaches, but the human element of baseball will always be a factor in the game, as it was in a game between two American League East contenders.
He Toronto Blue Jays and second baseman Ernie Clement may have benefited the most from the human aspect of the game in Sunday’s sixth inning.
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Toronto Blue Jays’ Ernie Clement hits a three-run home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto on June 6, 2026. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)
Blue Jays catcher Brandon Valenzuela hit a helicopter on Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson. Clement veered to his right to avoid Henderson’s tag with the infielder throwing to first, thinking the runner would be thrown out for being off the baseline.
Instead, Second base umpire Nic Lentz. He ruled that Clement was safe at second, saying that Clement was moving out of the way for Henderson to field the ball rather than trying to avoid the tag.
“The runner has the right to establish his base path, so Clement had established his base path to avoid possible fielder interference,” Lentz told a pool reporter. “Although Henderson attempted to tag him, Clement’s base path was already set there, going to second base, so he was not off the baseline.”
Henderson said the call was “super frustrating” and added that he felt like it “wasn’t a great call.”
Orioles Manager Craig Albernaz argued on the field. He said the referees told him Henderson didn’t do enough to try to tag him.
Brandon Valenzuela of the Toronto Blue Jays is sprayed by his teammates after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Toronto on June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/Canadian Press)
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“I think when you put your glove out to touch someone, that’s an attempt to tag,” Albernaz said. “There’s no rule about how far you have to extend your arm to touch someone.”
Hunter Wendelstedt said Clement stepping out of the way was “a very gentlemanly thing to do.”
“He was getting out of the way to allow the fielder to make the play to first base,” he added.
Baltimore held a 4-2 lead with two outs after Clement’s calamity. But the Blue Jays would recover.
Orioles pitcher Shane Baz had more opportunities to get out of the inning. He allowed five runs, one earned, in 5 2/3 innings of work. He yelled at the referees as he walked toward the dugout.
“The only reason I’m not going to talk about that play is because I’m going to get fined,” Baz said afterward. “That’s the only reason.”
Brandon Valenzuela of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a home run against the Baltimore Orioles during the eighth inning in Toronto on June 7, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/Canadian Press)
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Toronto won the game, 6-4.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
