Rays protest loss to Blue Jays, seeking replay of encounter

The Tampa Bay Rays protested their 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday after a disputed replay challenge and hope to have the game replayed.

The play in question happened in the fourth inning when Tampa Bay's Wil Myers was called safe on a pick-off throw to first base.

After Tampa Bay hitter Yunel Escobar stepped into the batter's box and play was ready to resume, Toronto manager John Gibbons requested a replay challenge that overturned the call and deemed Myers out at first.

Rays manager Joe Maddon argued the challenge was illegal because it was too late. Under baseball's replay rules, all challenges must be made before the next play or pitch.

Tampa Bay announced it was playing the remainder of the game during protest, which will be ruled upon by Major League Baseball.

"We were told in the beginning, when the batter is in the box and the pitcher is on the rubber, you can no longer challenge," Maddon said.

"I would be really surprised if the protest was not upheld."

If the Rays win the protest, the game would resume in the fourth inning.

The San Francisco Giants successfully protested a game against the Cubs on Tuesday in the first time a protest was upheld since 1986.