But the call in question didn't concern Cody Ross' bobbled ball. In the ninth inning of the game, Marlon Byrd approached the plate –– with two runners on –– and attempted a bunt.
When Jonathan Broxton's fastball blazed inside, Byrd pulled back on the bunt and appeared to get plunked. But instead of signaling the base on balls, Nelson called the pitch a foul tip before Byrd eventually placed a sac bunt.
Despite the result of the at-bat, Valentine ripped the umpiring crew for the decision. In his eyes, the team was robbed of potentially scoring a game-tying run.
"That's a damn shame," Valentine said. "The [expletive] umpire can’t make a right call and get help to get it done. It’s a damn shame is what it is. Be stubborn. It’s not his job to call the frigging play. Just get help. It’s a damn shame is what that is. It’s a damn shame.
"And then they don’t want replay. If they can’t get it right, they should frigging ask for help. They asked for help on the one on the outfield, I think they got it right. Why the [expletive] is it so hard to do it at the end of the game if they can do it at the beginning of the game?”
It was a culmination of frustration for the Red Sox manager, who has now watched his team drop seven of the last eight games. After the game, Byrd said that he was grazed on the finger.
Still, when informed of Valentine's comments, Nelson didn't budge from his stance in the ninth. As far as he was concerned, there was no discussion necessary in those types of situations.
"We usually don’t ask about a ball hitting a guy's hand based on an umpire that's 100 feet away," Nelson said. "You go on the best information that you have and also, if the batter had been offering at the pitch and the pitch had hit his hand, the result would be a strike and a dead ball. But my ruling was a foul ball."
Regardless of the outcome, a fine from the Commissioner's Office could be awaiting Valentine after his critical comments.
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