Everybody is confused after an Angel Hernandez call goes against the Cleveland Indians in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Salvador Perez sent a drive to right center field Tuesday night in the third inning that landed on the warning track, but that’s when confusion set in between the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals.

Whit Merrifield, the Royals runner at third, scored easily. Andrew Benintendi, the runner at second, was a different story.

Perez’s fly ball was missed at the warning track by center fielder Harold Ramirez, but quickly corralled by right fielder Josh Naylor. His throw back to the infield was in time to get Benintendi, who had started to advance to third, but was told by Kansas City third base coach Vance Wilson to go back and tag second.

Meanwhile, Perez was shouting to Benintendi from first that he should run to third. Shortstop Amed Rosario applied the tag, and that’s when the confusion set in. Umpires, led by crew chief Angel Hernandez, gathered between first and second to discuss the play.

Benintendi was eventually awarded third base on the premise that one of the umpires, presumably Hernandez, had ruled either Ramirez or Naylor initially caught Perez’s fly ball. Video appeared to indicate Hernandez casually making his way from behind first base toward the area where the catch/no catch occurred. The replay appeared to show Hernandez raising his arm as if to indicate an out on a catch, which could have prompted the confusion for Benintendi.

An incensed Cleveland manager Terry Francona argued with Hernandez near the third-base line while pitcher Sam Hentges threw a few warmup pitches to stay loose.

Francona eventually returned to his dugout without being ejected. Ultimately the call did not end up costing the Indians any runs. Hentges struck out Jorge Soler, and after walking Hunter Dozier, got Michael A. Taylor on a fly ball to right to end the inning.

But the call sparked plenty of discussion on social media as Hernandez’s track record of questionable calls always seems to do. Fans and followers alike repeatedly called for Hernandez’s firing as his calls are routinely overturned on replay and his competence as an official is constantly under scrutiny. Below are a few examples of those reactions.

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