What initially seemed like a lucky break for the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday was eventually ruled to their detriment.
The Brewers trailed 1-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays with one out in the bottom of the 9th inning at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wis.
Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers came up to the plate with runners on second and third against Rays closer Jason Adam. Adams struck out Bauer on four pitches.
The strikeout pitch ended up getting by Rays backup catcher René Pinto. The passed ball allowed Brewers outfielder Sal Frelick to score from third base.
The Brewers' game-tying run in the bottom of the 9th was erased because Jake Bauers' bat hit the catcher on his back swing
Pat Murphy was ejected for the first time as a manager pic.twitter.com/DczvL09Rnz
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 30, 2024
But home plate umpire Ryan Additon called Bauer out on batter interference for hitting Pinto on the helmet on the hitter’s backswing.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy disagreed with the ruling, arguing that Pinto had let the baseball roll to the backstop before Baeur nicked the Rays catcher with the bat. Murphy was eventually ejected from the game for the first time in his managerial career.
Murphy called the umpires out during his postgame press conference.
“I believe they got it wrong. But there was no question on their minds that they got it right,” said Murphy.
#Brewers Manager Pat Murphy on the 9th inning call👇
“I believe they got it wrong.” pic.twitter.com/zivrEuwh6y
— Hunter Baumgardt (@hunterbonair) April 30, 2024
The Brewers were unable to rebound from the batter interference fiasco. They lost the contest 1-0 to the Rays as center fielder Blake Perkins struck out with the bases loaded.
