Voyagers Lose Game 2 on Controversial Call

Pictured: OF/RHP Hylan Hall

The Voyagers put together another solid game last night, especially defensively, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome the Glacier Range Riders, who mount a late game comeback via a walkoff single from Mason Dinesin in the bottom of the 9th.

Starting pitcher Danny Galvan made his second appearance last night for the Voyagers, and has shown out in his first two appearances since joining the team. Yesterday, Galvan put together the single best pitching performance we've seen yet this year for the Voyagers. Galvan went 8 full innings, only giving up one earned run on three hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Galvan put on a pitching masterclass, and his team needed every last pitch, as they only carried a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th inning. 

Dayan Reinoso relieved Galvan in the 9th inning, looking for his second save of the season. Reinoso struck out Christian Kirtley to bring Glacier to their final out of the game with a runner on third. Chad Castillo was then hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners with two away. That's when Mason Dinesin came up to the plate with a chance to win it for his team. 

The count was 2-2 when Reinoso threw a nasty front door curveball that clipped the inside edge of the strike zone. It was a perfect pitch that would have won the game for the Voyagers and put them up 2 games to none on the series. Instead, home plate umpire Bryan Rose decided to call a balk on Reinoso, bringing home the tying run from third in the bottom of the 9th with two outs. Then, on the very next pitch, Dinesin hit a walkoff single into left field to tie the series up at one game a piece for the Range Riders. In under a minute, the Voyagers went from being one strike away from back-to-back victories, to inexplicably losing on a walkoff.

Pictured: 3B/1B Frank Podkul

Reinoso, as well as the other players and coaches were all understandably frustrated with how the game finished, and there was plenty of reason for them to be upset. While you could argue that the move that Dayan made before delivering the 2-2 pitch was a balk, like so many other things in baseball, balks aren't as black and white as the rulebook would have you think. There is a lot of nuance and discretion that comes with balk calls, ESPECIALLY in clutch-time situations, such as the one we were in last night. 

This is the main gripe that Voyagers players and coaches had last night. It didn't make any sense for the balk to be called at that point in the game. Firstly, the balk was called long after the pitch had already been delivered. It was also called by the home plate official, rather than the infield official, something that you almost never see. Also, Reinoso had been throwing in a practically identical motion all inning, all game, and all season. This was not the first time that this officiating crew has seen Reinoso either.

To make that call in such a crucial part of the game is something that almost all fans universally disagree with, regardless of allegiance. I think I speak for everyone on both sides of the coin when I say, we would all much rather see the game be determined by the players on the field, rather than the umpires. Nobody comes to the games to see an official decide who gets to win and who doesn't. Last night, the game winning strikeout pitch was delivered, yet the Voyagers were not given the victory. It's especially frustrating for Great Falls; a team that has been on the short end of the stick a few times in a row now, and a team that has struggled to start the season. One thing is for sure: the Voyagers are due to have a call go their way, and they certainly hope that call is coming soon. 

Dinesin gets the walkoff single in the 9th, final score is 2-1 advantage Range Riders. The two squads face off for game 3 of a 6-game series tonight at 7:05, Nate Madej is the anticipated starter for Great Falls, who looks to continue a very solid start to his second pro season.