Listen: Phillies, Red Sox announcers react to ‘bizarre’ walk-off catcher’s interference

Catcher’s interference is not just one of the seven ways to reach first base; it’s also a way to score a game-winning run. That’s precisely what happened for the Philadelphia Phillies in Monday night’s game over the Boston Red Sox.

With the game tied 2-2 in the tenth inning, the Phillies were firmly in the driver’s seat. Philadelphia’s Edmundo Sosa came to the plate with no outs and the bases loaded. The 1-2 pitch from Boston’s Jordan Hicks initially appeared to be nothing more than Ball 2. Sosa, though, quickly pointed at Carlos Narváez.

“Is that catcher’s interference?” asked color analyst John Kruk, calling the game for the Phillies on NBC Sports Philadelphia.

“You know, that’s a good question,” Tom McCarthy replied. “The Phillies are gonna look at it. Mike Calitri went running off his chair.”

“And Mundo pointed right away,” McCarthy and Kruk said in unison.

A replay then confirmed the suspicions of Kruk and McCarthy.

“Oh, wow. Wow,” McCarthy said.

“Can you imagine?” added Kruk.

“Oh, my goodness, there was,” McCarthy said. “Oh, my goodness.”

“Narváez is praying that they get this wrong,” Kruk said. “I don’t know how they could.”

“It hit the glove, there’s no doubt. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this before,” said McCarthy.”

It was then announced that it was indeed catcher’s interference.

“Wow, the Phillies have won on a catcher’s interference,” McCarthy exclaimed. “Baseball is amazing.”

And as rare as catcher’s interference calls are in general, this one was even more unique as it came on a successfully checked swing. That was a talking point on Boston’s broadcast.

“What do we have here?” asked color analyst Lou Merloni, who then saw the replay. “That’s catcher’s interference. On a take.”

“How ’bout this development. I’ve never seen this before,” play-by-play man Dave O’Brien said.

“Well, it’s definitely catcher’s interference,” Merloni restated. “On a take. He hits the glove.”

Upon seeing another replay, Merloni noted that the interference was “as clear as day” but asked an important clarifying question.

“The question is, can you have it on a non-swing?” he asked. “I mean, if they’re looking to confirm that there’s contact, sure. But I’ve never seen catcher’s interference on a non-swing.”

“This is bizarre. I’ve never seen anything like this,” O’Brien said.

Following the official announcement, Merloni shared that view.

“I’ve never seen it. On a non-swing. Catcher interference. Walk-off.”

Merloni took to X later and shared a YouTube breakdown of a similar situation in a 2021 game, confirming that catcher’s interference can be called on a checked swing.

This is not the first unusual ending that the Phillies have been part of in recent weeks. This one, though, ended on better terms for Philadelphia.