The purpose of the 45 foot lane to the right of the baseline is to give the catcher or pitcher a lane to throw when the batter hits dribbler in front of the plate or down the 1st baseline. The intent of the rule as it applies to the running lane is to keep a baserunner from intentionally interfering/blocking the throwing lane to first when the baserunner is on his way to first base.
The play in question involved a bouncing ball 30 feet away from the plate to the left of the pitcher in between the mound and the third base line. The 45 foot running lane had nothing to do with the play because the throw was only impacted as Turner was literally contacting first base. Unlike little league, in MLB, there is no alternate orange first base in foul territory. Turner had no other way to touch first base, and he is entitled to the base. Turner is not required to take a banana route to the base. Particularly, in his final stride to the bag.
For those claiming that the rule was correctly applied, any first baseman could hold his glove in the baseline just in front of the base on every throw to first and claim interference, which is exactly what Gurriel did by not stretching for the ball. That is not the purpose of Rule 5.09(a)(11).
As Torre said, it was a judgment call requiring an interpretation of the rule, and the umps interpreted the rule incorrectly. Predictably, Torre defended the umps after the game as the call ended up not deciding the game, and it's in MLB's interest to not admit the call was wrong. With all of that said, the rule will be clarified in the off-season to ensure that a similar call is not made in the future.