DETROIT — Replay reviews were unavailable to the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers throughout much of their game Thursday night at Comerica Park because of a technical issue that affected both team broadcasts.
Major League Baseball said the Detroit broadcast compound lost power just before first pitch, rendering both clubs without a broadcast feed. The commissioner’s office informed the Blue Jays and Tigers that neither team would be able to challenge any umpires’ calls via instant replay until the issue was rectified.
“Should broadcast capabilities return, each club will be afforded its normal Manager’s Challenge, but will have unlimited Crew Chief Reviews for the remainder of the game,” MLB told the teams.
The problem was fixed during the sixth inning, a Tigers spokesperson said, and MLB confirmed the replay system was back up and running beginning in the top of the seventh. There were no calls that appeared likely to trigger a manager’s challenge before the system was restored.
The score was tied 1-all after six innings, and Toronto went on to win 9-1.
“Technology’s great until you don’t have it,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “It was a bit of an old-school game for about seven innings.”
MLB said the issue was not unprecedented at other ballparks, but the same problem occurred last year in Detroit and that game was played without replay review for seven innings.
