Texarkana Native Plays Big Role In Controversial End To Game Three of World Series

It was a back and forth affair in Game Three of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals that ended in controversy because of a call against Texarkana's Will Middlebrooks.

The ball game was tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth as the Cardinals batted with two runners on and one out.

The Cardinals had Yadier Molina on third base and Allen Craig on second.

Jon Jay grounded the ball to Boston's second baseman Dustin Pedroia.  Pedroia gunned it home to Jarrod Saltalamacchia who tagged Molina out at home plate.

Craig tried advancing to third on the throw to home.  After tagging Molina out, Saltalamacchia threw the ball to Boston's third baseman Will Middlebrooks.

Middlebrooks missed the ball and the ball went into left field along the stands.

Realizing Middlebrooks missed the ball, Craig tried to get up to run home and score the game-winning run.

However, as he was trying to get back up and run to the plate, he got tripped up by Middlebrooks, fell, tried to get back up and stagger as well as he could home.

The ball was thrown in to Saltalamacchia at home to tag out Craig at home.

Boston had thought they got the last out of the inning until the third base umpire Jim Joyce called obstruction on Middlebrooks for impeding Craig's progress.

Arguments at home plate ensued from the Red Sox staff about the call, however all the umpires agreed with the decision.

See what happened

Reaction to the call

What is obstruction?

Obstruction is called when one player impedes on a competing players ability to complete a play as they normally could if the obstruction had not happen.  Generally, these calls are made against batters who get in the way of a catcher's throw to prevent a stolen base.  In the case of a baserunner obstructing on a play, the baserunner is called out.

One infamous example was in the 2004 ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees when Alex Rodriguez swatted the ball out of the Boston's Bronson Arroyo's glove while running to first base.

Game recap