During the fifth inning of the Astros’ 9-2 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday, Boston’s Brayan Bello induced three straight whiffs from Cam Smith to start the at-bat — but home plate umpire Mark Wegner somehow lost track of the count and missed the should-be strikeout.
Wegner said after the third pitch that the count was one ball and two strikes, and the Astros outfielder battled back and worked a walk to knock Bello out of a 6-1 game.
“I just watched the video,” Wegner told reporters postgame. “I somehow didn’t count the second swinging one because I said the count was 1-2. It was actually strike three … I’ve never done that before. I’m not happy about it. Just made a mistake.”
When asked whether he was alerted to the mistake, Wegner added: “No one on the field said a word.”
Wegner said he missed the second strike, an 0-1 pitch after which Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido attempted to steal second, although he indicated a strike from behind the plate.
When second baseman Marcelo Mayer did not field the throw from catcher Connor Wong, Christian Walker broke for home plate.
Bello tried to cut the ball off to prevent Loperfido from advancing while Walker scored, but it deflected off his glove, allowing Loperfido to scoot to third base.
“It must have [been] because that’s the strike that I didn’t count on my indicator,” Wegner said. “Because the next one he swung at, I gave a count that said 1-2, and it was the third strike.”
Automated balls and strikes have been the latest new technology infiltrating major league basebal and, at times, have embarrassed umpires with far-too-wide strike zones.
On Monday, the Yankees executed a perfect ABS challenge system, going five-for-five against home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.
Wegner and the Yankees have had a bit of a checkered history together, as he ejected manager Aaron Boone last May for arguing balls and strikes.
Jazz Chisholm also needed to be held back from Wegner a month later in another tense scene.
This Red Sox situation with Wegner, though, is one that we haven’t seen much of in recent years.
Boston dropped to 1-4 with the loss, while the Astros are now 4-2.
