Umpire Angel Hernandez, Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi licking his fingers and a base on balls.
It was a combination that put the oft-criticized umpire in the spotlight on Tuesday night in Boston during the Red Sox’s 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. It also led to a walk for Red Sox hitter J.D. Martinez in the second inning of what was a 1-0 game at the time.
As Kikuchi stepped to the mound in the bottom half of the inning and prepared to make a 3-2 pitch, the 30-year-old Japanese pitcher quickly licked his index and middle finger while standing on the rubber. He then gripped the baseball, and Hernandez, who was working first base, awarded ball four to Martinez.
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