Baltimore Orioles fans, players, coaches, and broadcasters expressed strong dissatisfaction after Pete Alonso's potential go-ahead home run in a game against the New York Yankees was ruled foul on Wednesday night. The incident occurred in the seventh inning with the score tied at 3.
Alonso hit a ball down the left field line that appeared to be his 30th home run of the season. However, umpires on the field immediately ruled it a foul ball, leading to a crew chief review. The review ultimately upheld the original call, stating "the call on the field stands."
The decision immediately drew a strong reaction from those in attendance at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Even Michael Kay, the announcer for the Yankees' broadcast, was heard on air noting that the ball "looks fair."
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz stated after the game that the team's dugout believed the ball was fair, citing the ball-tracking data available on their iPads. He commented on the advancement of technology in sports, noting that teams are using AI and ball-tracking data for strategic decisions. Albernaz, however, added that the call was not the reason for the team's eventual 5-3 loss to the Yankees, who scored two runs in the eighth inning.
Despite the umpire's decision and the review's outcome, many observers, including those who reviewed the play, felt the call was incorrect. The visual evidence, particularly from the Orioles' dugout angle down the third base line, suggested the ball was fair. Had the call been made fair initially, it is speculated that the game's outcome might have been different, potentially with the Orioles entering the eighth inning with a lead.
The Yankees went on to win the game 5-3. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about the accuracy of umpiring decisions and the role of technology in baseball reviews.