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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, June 6, 2009

MLB: Umpires overturn on-field call, change Lowell's double to homer


Associated Press

BOSTON — The Red Sox's Mike Lowell has been awarded a home run after umpires used video review to overturn their on-field call of a double in the second inning of Saturday night's game against the Texas Rangers

The replay review system was used for the third time in four games at Fenway Park. The Red Sox had lost the previous two.

Lowell's line drive near the left-field pole bounced first off the ledge in front of the Monster Seats above the Green Monster and bounced back onto the field.

Third base umpire and crew chief Jeff Kellogg signaled the ball was in play as Lowell headed to second. Red Sox manager Terry Francona came out to argue and three members of the umpiring crew headed to the review room through Boston's dugout.

When the umpires returned, Kellogg reached the top of Boston's dugout steps and signaled that it was a homer. Lowell, who waited on second, then rounded the bases to give Boston a 1-0 lead.

On May 23, the Mets' Omar Santos hit a similar drive to Lowell that was originally called a double. It was overturned, giving the Mets a two-run, ninth-inning homer that lifted New York to a 3-2 win in the first replay in Fenway's history.

The next day Boston's Kevin Youkilis hit a high drive near the left-field pole that was ruled foul and upheld after a review.