Umpires No-Call Trout's Inadvertent Kick After Scoring

After Angels outfielder Mike Trout slid safely into home plate during Anaheim Los Angeles' win over Cleveland, he inadvertently kicked the the loose baseball away from Guardians catcher Cam Gallagher, no-called by HP Umpire Manny Gonzalez. With trailing runner Brett Phillips taking third on the play, however, was this interference?

The relevant rule here is Official Baseball Rule 6.01(a)(5), which states, "It is interference by a batter or a runner when any batter or runner who has just been put out, or any runner who has just scored, hinders or impedes any following play being made on a runner. Such runner shall be declared out for the interference of their teammate."

Like many brands of interference, the standard here is "hinders or impedes" and intent is not a requirement: thus, Trout's accidental kick of the baseball can constitute interference if the umpire rules that the kicking hindered or impeded the fielder from a following play.

Also relevant: Catcher Gallagher dropped second baseman Andres Gimenez' throw before Trout arrived and Angels baserunner R1 Phillips was running on the pitch, appearing to stride into third base before F2 Gimenez retrieved the ball.

The no-call enabled Phillips to score on the next play—a sacrifice fly—and the Angels came back with two runs in the 9th inning to beat Cleveland, 5-4.

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Trout kicks ball after scoring, but was in interference? Manny says it wasn't