PHILADELPHIA — Out at first? Nope, safe, all thanks to three blown calls by first base umpire Lew Williams.
Upon further review, Williams went 0-for-3 on challenged calls in the Phillies’ 8-4 win in over the Nationals in the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday.
Williams, who was called up from Triple-A as a fill-in umpire, got the assignment at first base in the opener. He missed his first call in the second inning when Washington’s Ildemaro Vargas was called out at first on a bad throw by Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. Replay showed Bryce Harper’s foot was off the bag and Vargas was ruled safe.
In the third, Nick Castellanos was called out at first base on a long throw from third by Vargas. The Phillies challenged and the replay showed Castellanos beat the throw. He was called safe after a review.
Absolutely brutal sequence from umpire Lew Williams:
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 8, 2023
Part 1: While Ildemaro Vargas makes a great play on a Nick Castellanos grounder, Castellanos easily beat the throw
Williams called him out. It was overturned. pic.twitter.com/AJn3tCX3ep
His time at first almost didn’t last long. Williams again called Castellanos out on starter Trevor Williams’ pickoff attempt. Again, the Phillies challenged; again, replay showed he was safe. Castellanos got his hand on the bag and escaped the tag.
Part 2: Trevor Williams throws over to first base. Williams again rules Castellanos out. The Phillies again challenge.
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 8, 2023
Not quite as bad as the previous play. But this, too, was overturned.
Unsurprisingly, the Philadelphia fans were not happy with the umpire. pic.twitter.com/n4wE4VsbHp
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