The usually merciless Twins manager took his anger out on umpire Marty Foster and crew chief Alan Porter after Foster’s judgment — that Gary Sanchez had tagged out Whit Merrifield at home plate, ending the 10th inning and keeping the game tied — canceled in New York. by referee Jordan Baker. His verdict: That Sanchez had violated the rule against blocking home plate, that he hadn’t given Merrifield the required slide path. Merrifield was ruled safe – scoring the eventual game-winning run in the Blue Jays’ 3-2 victory – Baldelli was ejected and the Twins hardly settled in bitterness for a split of the raucous four-game series. “This is beyond embarrassing for our game, for all the players out there,” Baldelli fumed in a brief post-match profanity-laced interview. “It’s one of the worst times I think we’ve seen umpiring in any game I’ve ever been in baseball. It was pathetic, what just happened.” Potentially critical, too. The Twins’ two-game AL Central lead over Cleveland was cut in half by the loss, with a road trip to Los Angeles, where the Dodgers own baseball’s best record, next Tuesday. “It’s a game that could have playoff implications at some point. And to have it taken away from us, it’s tough,” reliever Caleb Thielbar said. “It was very fair, what [Baldelli] He made. He was right, as far as I’m concerned.” However, as far as the Blue Jays are concerned, Baker merely dispensed justice. “I know what the rule is. The issue is whether it was called or not, and I think they rightfully said that,” Merrifield said. “I thought it would be overturned. I thought it should be overturned. Obviously, it’s a big point in the game and you don’t want to end up with a rules decision, but the rules are there for a reason.” The outburst added an air of grievance to the Twins’ frustration at losing a game that seemed headed for a euphoric finish. They trailed 2-0 in the third inning and then tacked on a run in the eighth and another in the ninth to tie the score and excite their raucous home crowd, then shut down the Blue Jays’ scoring opportunity in the 10th. – even momentarily – with that dramatic play at the plate. …