A replay review in a crucial moment of a game between the Marlins and Angels led to an unfortunate hot mic moment from the umpiring crew on Saturday night.
The visiting Marlins were up a run in the top of the 10th inning with the bases loaded when Los Angeles appeared to get Miami catcher Jacob Stallings to ground into a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning. However, the Marlins saw that Angels catcher Matt Thaiss never touched home plate to record the force out, and they decided to challenge the play.
Crew chief Jeff Nelson announced Miami’s challenge to the crowd, but he failed to turn off his mic before unleashing some NSFW language.
“They got their heads up their a--. Let’s go,” Nelson said.
Incredible umpire hot mic moment pic.twitter.com/BpdIlhG8F0
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 28, 2023
Angels in the top of the 10th:
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 28, 2023
▪️ Error on a fly ball that would have been the second out, but instead was the go-ahead run
▪️ Would have turned an inning-ending double play, but the catcher wasn't touching home plate so it was actually another run pic.twitter.com/FbkIFCKpFm
It is unclear whom Nelson was criticizing, but he may have thought there was no chance Thaiss hadn’t touched home plate. However, home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor got the call incorrect, and Miami won the challenge despite Nelson’s apparent displeasure.
The Marlins went on to win, 8-5, in 10 innings.
