Blue Jays’ George Springer fumes after two straight botched calls as AL East race tightens

George Springer slammed his bat to the ground, letting out all the frustration that one could muster after two critical calls went against him in the thick of a pennant race.

The veteran outfielder first thought he had a potential two- or three-run double that just stayed fair down the line, only for the third base umpire to rule it foul.

Moments later, Springer took a pitch outside the zone that should have run the count full only for the home plate umpire to call strike three with the bases loaded and the Blue Jays trailing 1-0.

Those plays ultimately loomed large in the Blue Jays’ 4-1 loss that cut their AL East lead to just one game following the Yankees’ walk-off win over the White Sox .

“It’s a fair ball down the third-base line, I thought it was fair,” Blue Jays manager John S