A save later, Golson ruling not costly

A save later, Golson ruling not costly

MINNEAPOLIS -- With only 31 games of big league experience to his credit, Greg Golson wasn't about to begin protesting to the umpiring crew in the middle of an American League Division Series game, though he was sure he had reason to.

Golson raced in to chase down what could have been the final out of the Yankees' 6-4 victory over the Twins in Game 1 on Wednesday at Target Field, believing he'd snagged a sinking line drive to right field off the bat of Delmon Young.

The play was ruled a trap by right-field umpire Chris Guccione, despite the Yankees' cries to the contrary, forcing closer Mariano Rivera to regroup and get Jim Thome to pop out to third base to end the game.

"It looked like my glove went back a little bit, so I could see where there was some confusion," said Golson, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. "I'm just glad the play didn't end up being bigger than it was."

The Yankees instantly thought they had a case, though, as Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano argued on Golson's behalf. Alex Rodriguez also tried to prove that the ball hadn't hit grass, asking the umpires to inspect it for traces of green.

"I couldn't see it. The only thing I saw was there was no grass on the ball," A-Rod said. "It looked like, from my vantage point, perhaps he caught it. My guess is as good as yours."

Teixeira was more sure: "I thought it was a catch right away, and we were all pretty adamant about it. You have the whole team running to make sure they get it right. But it just didn't go our way."

Rivera said that "it is part of the game," and that "you just have to get the next guy." But it was a crucial out to get, with the dangerous Thome now representing the tying run at the plate after crew chief Jerry Crawford decided to keep Young at first base.

"I commend [the umpires], they got together and they talked about it," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I never really saw the replay, so I am not exactly sure what happened. I know what our players told me. You know, it's not like they were out of position or anything. They hustled out there, it just happens."
