VIDEO: Victor Martinez’ Controversial Game-tying Home Run

Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning in game four of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers fell behind 3-0 early in the do-or-die Game 4 on Wednesday night. Jhonny Peralta was able to tie the game with a three-run blast, but the Tigers once again found themselves in a hole when Coco Crisp singled home a run in the top of the seventh. They were finally able to take the lead — their first lead since Game 1 — with five runs across the seventh and eighth innings, and it all started with a controversial home run by Victor Martinez.

The right field fence seems to be the only source of reviewed home runs in Comerica Park due to the yellow home run line being below the fan-barrier railing. Several times a year balls hit the rail or fans (above the yellow line) and have to be reviewed.

As far as I know — and we’ll have to dig into the rule book to confirm this — the decision by the umpires isn’t so much whether or not Josh Reddick could have caught the ball, but whether or not the ball would have landed above that yellow line. Fan interference isn’t called when they’re catching a ball that would have otherwise landed in the seating area.

Not everyone agrees with me, but it really did appear to me that the ball would have cleared the line and either hit the bottom of the rail or the concrete behind the padding if neither the fan nor Reddick had made a play on the ball. It certainly didn’t appear conclusive enough to overturn a home run call based on replay.

Of course, I’m looking through Olde English D stylized glasses.