Yankees allow embarrassing run on controversial balk call vs. Padres

The New York Yankees and pitcher Clarke Schmidt faced a jam in the fourth inning on Tuesday.

The Yanks and San Diego Padres were in a scoreless game, but the Friars had loaded the bases.

That's when Schmidt went into his windup and was called for a balk. That allowed each runner to advance, bringing across the game's first tally.

Have a look, and then we'll break it down.

The Padres score the first run of the game on a bases-loaded balk pic.twitter.com/tvsnkRksFE

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The home plate umpire was not the one who made the call. It appears Schmidt turns around to see the call from behind him by the second-base ump.

It's clear from the footage what that umpire saw. Schmidt's initial hip move has the vibe of a herky-jerky individual motion, not the beginning of a windup.

But when taken in its entirety, it's clear Schmidt was just starting his windup.

Umpires don't get to see guys in the windup a lot with runners on base, which can complicate a call like this. Right-handed pitchers will go to the windup with the bases loaded for comfort level, knowing its highly improbable anyone will be stealing.

It cost Schmidt here, though.

The Yankees will need to respond to stand up for their pitcher after a call that clearly didn't make manager Aaron Boone very happy.

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