Outrageous missed call has Reds fans screaming for robo-umps now

Graham Ashcraft took the loss during Thursday's series finale against the Seattle Mariners. The Cincinnati Reds reliever came on during the 10th inning and allowed four unearned runs on two hits while striking out one and walking another. The Reds fell by the final score of 11-7, but if Major League Baseball's automated ball-strike system (ABS) was being used this season, Ashcraft's line would've looked a lot different.

With the game tied at 7-7 heading into extra innings, Ashcraft replaced Emilio Pagán after the Reds closer blew his first save of the 2025 season. A sacrifice bunt that Ashcraft himself bobbled allowed the leadoff hitter to reach first, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. An RBI single courtesy of J.P Crawford put the Mariners up 8-7 with runners on first and second.

But after that initial hiccup, Ashcraft settled in. A ground ball out and a stolen base later put runners at second and third with only one out. Ashcraft got Mariners' catcher Cal Raleigh to swing and miss at strike three, setting the stage for the Reds reliever to emerge relatively unscathed. But an egregious missed call by the home plate umpire turned the game on its head.

Outrageous missed call has Reds fans screaming for robo-umps now

The next batter was Randy Arozrena. He and Ashcraft went toe-to-toe during an eight-pitch at bat that should've ended one pitch sooner. After two balls out of the strike zone and four fouls, the count was even at two balls and two strikes. Ashcraft then dotted a 96 mph cutter on the outside corner for what should have been strike three.

Ashcraft turned to go off the mound in celebration, but home plate umpire Alex MacKay called it a ball. Arozarena smacked the 3-2 offering into left field for a three-run double and put the Mariners up 10-7. The Mariners tacked on one more thanks to an error from Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz and the Reds failed to score in the bottom of the 10th.

If MLB's ABS system—which the league tested during spring training—was available during Thursday's game, Cincinnati would have had a much better chance to win the series finale. Ashcraft or catcher Jose Trevino could have challenged the pitch and there's little doubt the ABS would have confirmed that the Reds' reliever did indeed strike Arozarena out.

The Reds had their chances, but multiple gaffes—two of which happened in extra innings—and Pagán giving up two home runs in the ninth inning, ultimately spelled their doom. Cincinnati will look to rebound from a tough series loss as they head on the road to Baltimore for a three-game series versus the Orioles.

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