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White Sox Rookie Sam Antonacci Hits Inside-the-Park First MLB Homer After Ball Boy Deflection

Umpires could not review the ball boy contact under rules that require an interference call to trigger replay.

Overview

  • Sam Antonacci recorded his first big-league home run as an inside-the-park shot in the ninth inning Tuesday at Chase Field, capping the White Sox’s 11-5 win over the Diamondbacks.
  • The fair ball rolled down the left-field line and made contact with a Diamondbacks ball boy, and left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stopped pursuing it as Antonacci kept running.
  • No interference was called on the field, so under MLB replay procedures the contact by stadium staff was not reviewable and the inside-the-park ruling stood after consultation.
  • According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale and local reports, Antonacci is the first White Sox player in about 50 years to have his first career homer come inside the park.
  • Antonacci was called up from Triple-A on April 15 as part of Chicago’s youth movement, and the unusual play has renewed media calls for MLB to clarify replay rules for non-player contact.