Replay review: Sean Murphy called for blocking plate, Mark Kotsay earns first ejection

Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty ImagesAdd another chapter to the weird saga of MLB replay review.

The Oakland A’s were involved in a close play at the plate on Saturday, and the initial call was that they tagged out the Texas Rangers runner. Upon further inspection, the call was overturned, not because the runner was determined to be safe but because of a technical rules violation. Though the runner really was probably safe anyway.

Here’s what happened.

In the 8th inning of a scoreless game, with runners on second and third, the Rangers hit a single to left field. The first runner scored easily. The second runner, former A’s prospect Eli White, rounded third and headed for home, while…