The Houston Astros secured a decisive 9-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, but the game wasn't without its drama. A notable error by veteran umpire Mark Wegner during the fifth inning added an unexpected twist, though it didn’t alter the final outcome.
Wegner, a seasoned umpire with nearly three decades of experience, admitted postgame that he lost track of the count during Astros outfielder Cam Smith's at-bat against Red Sox starter Brayan Bello. Smith should have struck out after his third swing-and-miss, but was mistakenly allowed to continue the at-bat, ultimately drawing a walk.
During the at-bat, a throwing error on a steal attempt allowed an Astros runner to score, but the oversight on the strike count went unnoticed by players, managers, and even Wegner himself. The confusion led to Smith being given a 1-2 count instead of being called out. He then fouled off several pitches and took a few for balls, eventually walking.
This was Bello's final batter, as he was soon pulled by manager Alex Cora. Despite the mix-up, Boston didn’t concede more runs in that inning but eventually fell 9-2.
Reflecting on the incident, Wegner expressed his frustration, acknowledging the mistake after reviewing the footage. "I somehow didn’t count the second swinging one because I said the count was 1-2. It was actually strike three," he explained, noting it was an error he hadn’t made before.
Interestingly, no one on the field, including Bello, questioned the count. Bello later shared that he didn't dispute the count during the game, maintaining his focus despite the confusion.
The error wasn't related to MLB's new ABS system, which allows challenges on taken pitches. Since Smith swung and missed three times, there was nothing to challenge. It was simply a rare oversight by all involved.
Mark Wegner, who has been a crew chief since 2018, has a distinguished career, including umpiring in three World Series and multiple All-Star Games. Despite this hiccup, his extensive experience underscores the occasional human element in baseball officiating.