"That's bad! Can't End a Game That Way!": Controversial Call Sparks Ugly Scene; Ends Giants/Dodgers Series

The first-ever postseason series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants ended on a terribly questionable umpire's call, casting a pall of controversy over the Dodgers' otherwise well-earned 2-1 victory. 

Absolutely unbelievable.

Umpire Gabe Morales eliminated the Giants from the playoffs with a blown check swing call to Wilmer Flores.#Giants #Dodgers #LADvSF pic.twitter.com/8LiUDSR6fo

— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) October 15, 2021

Wilmer Flores appeared to check his swing, but an appeal to first base umpire Gabe Morales resulted in a strike call, ending the game and the series. 

TBS commentators Brian Anderson and Ron Darling were shocked with the call when watching the replay of the ruled check-swing. "Ohhh, man.. That's bad. That's bad. I don't think he went... Can't end a game that way." 

Afterwards, Flores agreed, telling The Athletic, “I didn’t go. I didn’t swing. In that situation, to win the game, you can’t make that call.”

The controversial call produced an ugly scene after the game, as Giants fans started tossing beer cans onto the field in protest, If it makes Giants fans feel any better, Flores was 0-for-17 against Max Scherzer coming into that at-bat, and was 1-for-12 in the series. The likelihood of him coming up with a hit off Scherzer even with a 1-2 count was unlikely. 

That's small consolation though for the team that won 107 games this season, edging out the 106-win Dodgers for the NL East division title. 

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Scherzer, meanwhile, closed the door to pick up his first-ever major league save. 

The defending-champion Dodgers now move on to face the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. 

Photo Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports