Detroit — As is always the case, the umpire gets the last word.
With the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday, Los Angeles Angels closer Bud Norris threw a 3-2 slider to Alex Avila that, depending on your point of view, was either just on or just off the outside corner.
Home-plate umpire Andy Fletcher called it strike three and the Angels took a 5-3 win over the Tigers in the first of a three- game series.
“That was a ball,” Avila said to Fletcher as he walked back to the dugout.