Cincinnati Reds pitcher Caleb Ferguson directed a profane tirade at umpire Bill Miller following a defensive play in the seventh inning of the Reds' 8-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Monday night. The incident occurred when Miller appeared to get in the way of second baseman Edwin Arroyo's attempt to field a ground ball hit by the Mariners' Victor Robles.
The ball deflected into the outfield, allowing the Mariners to advance runners. Ferguson, who had just surrendered a grand slam to Cal Raleigh, was heard shouting obscenities at Miller, including calling him a "f—ing fata–."
Despite the controversial play, the Reds managed to prevent further scoring immediately after, but the team's struggles this season continue. After a strong start, the Reds have faltered, holding a 25-43 record in their last 68 games. The loss dropped them further in the standings, while the Mariners extended their lead in the AL West.
In a separate part of the game, Reds manager Terry Francona's strategy to intentionally walk Dominic Canzone to load the bases and face Cal Raleigh backfired. Raleigh, who had been struggling offensively, hit his 10th home run of the season off the first pitch he saw. Francona acknowledged the decision's unfavorable outcome, stating he still worried about Raleigh despite his low batting average and that he believed loading the bases offered the best chance to limit damage. The Associated Press contributed to this report.