Dodgers' Dave Roberts Calls Out MLB Ump Hunter Wendelstedt for 'Wrong' Ruling in Loss

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had some choice words for third-base umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after Wednesday's 9-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Speaking to reporters following the game, Roberts said Wendelstedt "got it wrong" for an obstruction call that allowed Alec Bohm to advance to third base.

"He got it wrong," Roberts explained. "That's just a fact. Umpiring is hard. They do a great job. Tonight, that play affected the game."

The play occurred in the top of the sixth when Bohm doubled to leadoff the inning. Brandon Marsh followed by attempting to execute a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Dodgers third baseman Enrique Hernández, who attempted to get the out at third base with Miguel Rojas running to cover the bag.

Rojas got the tag on Bohm's foot for what would have been an out, but Wendelstedt determined Rojas impeded Bohm's path and awarded him the base. Roberts came out of the Dodgers dugout to argue the call before being ejected from the game by Wendelstedt.

The replay and still images of the play seemed to support Roberts' argument that it was a bad call. Rojas appeared to give Bohm a path to the base by straddling the bag as he put the tag down (video starts at 5:40 mark).

The Phillies, who trailed 4-1 after two innings, scored five runs in the top of the sixth. Kyle Schwarber delivered the big blow with a three-run homer off Joe Kelly.

Rojas said afterward that Wendelstedt was "looking to be the hero" and wanted to be "part of a moment in the game."

Crew chief Marvin Hudson, who was at second base for the game and spoke on behalf of Wendelstedt, said that Rojas "was in front of the bag without the ball."

ESPN's Jesse Rogers reported in February that MLB instructed umpires to be more diligent in enforcing the obstruction rule that would "mostly impact plays around second and third base."

Typical infractions occurred at second base when a middle infielder would put their leg on the ground to block the runner's path to the bag, but it can happen at third base with an infielder moving up the line to block the path when he receives a throw.

Even accounting for the enforced rule requirements, Rojas appeared to be slightly out in front of third base when he received the throw but isn't blocking Bohm's ability to reach the bag.

Roberts was ejected from a game for the first time all season. His most recent ejection prior to Wednesday was in an 8-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Aug. 26, 2023.

The Phillies (68-46) and Dodgers (66-49) entered their three-game series as the top two teams in the NL by record. Philadelphia won the final two games after dropping the opener to open up a 2.5-game lead over the Dodgers for the No. 1 seed.

Philadelphia won five of six games against the Dodgers to clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker if they finish with the same record at the end of the regular season.