Blue Jays Rally Past Orioles 6-4 After Controversial Base-Path Non-Call in Sixth
Toronto scored three runs after a disputed sixth-inning decision and held on for the win. The result moved both clubs within striking distance of the AL wild-card race.
mlbtraderumors.comThe Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 on June 7, 2026, in the rubber match of a three-game series. The outcome turned on a sixth-inning play in which second-base umpire Nic Lentz did not call Ernie Clement out for deviating from his base path.
With the score 4-1 in Baltimore’s favor, one out and runners on the corners, Brandon Valenzuela chopped a 1-1 breaking ball from Shane Baz to shortstop Gunnar Henderson.
Henderson threw to first for the out on Valenzuela, then attempted to tag Clement, who was running from first to second. Clement veered wide to avoid the tag. Lentz ruled that Clement had not run more than three feet from the base path established at the moment of the tag attempt.
Jesús Sánchez scored on the play. Three two-out RBI hits followed, giving Toronto a 5-4 lead it maintained for the remainder of the game. In the ninth inning, Orioles runner Jackson Holliday was called out for deviating from the base path while grounding out for the second out.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said, “Ernie… I haven’t looked at it yet, maybe fortunate there. 09(b)(1) states that a runner is out when he runs more than three feet away from his base path to avoid being tagged, unless the action is to avoid interference with a fielder fielding a batted ball.
The rule defines the base path as a straight line from the runner to the base he is attempting to reach, established at the instant the tag is attempted.
The victory improved Toronto’s record to 32-34. The Blue Jays, the reigning American League champions, are now a half-game out of the third and final AL wild-card spot. 5 games out of a playoff position.
