A bench clearing brawl in Atlanta between the Brewers and Braves inspires Group Case Play 2013-10: An Unsportsmanlike Home Run. With one out and none on, batter Carlos Gomez hits a home run. While
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| Conclusive evidence: B1 doesn't go home. |
jogging around the bases, he and several opponents engage in unsportsmanlike conduct such that opposing player Freddie Freeman, Gerald Laird and Gomez himself
are ejected by HP Umpire Paul Nauert and 1B Umpire Doug Eddings (2B Umpire Angel Hernandez, 3B Umpire and Crew Chief Dana DeMuth). Upon the final leg of Gomez's 360-foot journey around the bases, he is confronted by catcher Brian McCann; he responds with unsporting actions of his own and the benches clear, resulting in a brawl, Gomez having to be restrained by teammates before being ushered back to the dugout and into the clubhouse. Batter Gomez never touches home plate, but the Braves do not appeal as the scoreboard changes from 0-0 to 1-0, Milwaukee.
Question: What's the call? Should HP Umpire Paul Nauert rule Gomez out for failing to touch home plate or otherwise deviating from his attempt to advance—if so, does this require an appeal? What rules apply?
This Case Play is of the Group variety and expires
at the final out of the final game of the season on Sunday (still expires at the conclusion of play Sunday even if a tiebreaker game results).
Related Post:
MLB Ejections 177, 178, 179: Eddings, Nauert (3, 4; 3)
Video:
Multiple broadcasts of the bench-clearing brawl confirming Gomez did not touch home plate (Must C)
