Cubby Call: Double Play Interference Ends Cubs-Cards

Umpire Fieldin Culbreth's interference call on Cardinals runner Shane Robinson ended Tuesday night's Cubs-Cardinals game in a textbook application of OBR Rule 6.05 under similar circumstances to CB Bucknor's game-ending interference call in Philadelphia on August 29, 2007. QOC for both calls? Absolutely correct.

Freese interferes with Castro on DP, ending game.

That day, it was Mets baserunner Marlon Anderson who slid into Phillies turn-man Tadahito Iguchi significantly wide of second base, preventing the tying run from scoring from third. At the time, crew chief Joe West explained, "Marlon Anderson went after the second baseman to break up the double play and did not, and could not reach the base, which is what he argued. He went out of his way to interfere with the play that created the interference. CB made a great call, made a gutsy call and he didn’t back down from the call at all."

Back to June 18, 2013, Cardinals batter David Freese, serving as the tying run, hit a roller to second base, Darwin Barney pitching to shortstop Starlin Castro as baserunner Robinson slid into Castro's person, as opposed to second base, effectively preventing Castro from throwing the ball onto first base, but drawing the interference call from Culbreth, resulting in Freese's third GIDP of the game.

Though argued vociferously on the field by Cardinals Manager Mike Matheny following the play, the skipper later admitted, "[Culbreth] made the right call." Starlin Castro's take, as the pivot man getting crashed, was more humorous: "[It wasn't] even close. I couldn't throw the ball because he tried to kill me."

In a more somber tone, Castro accused Robinson of sliding in "cleats up."

Robinson was still in shock: "It's a shame it had to end like that. I didn't think it was that bad of a slide. I didn't contact him at all. I was a little surprised, but it wasn't my call to make."

Video: Shane Robinson crashes the pivot man in a textbook case of 6.05 to end the ballgame (CHC)