Seems it was the right call according to the rule book. Might not make sense...but it clearly is the the rule.
Other very similar plays the umpire did not call it lodged.
Fielder knew his best play was to act like he could not get at the ball. That was not true
You can run and pick up the ball and throw it.
Don’t ground rules vary from park to park?
As I recall there was an orange line on the Shea Stadium outfield wall. If the ball hit above the line it was a home run even if it bounced back into the field of play.