Welcome To The Ump Show! Cincinnati Reds Screwed by the Umpires Yesterday! NFL Draft One Week Away!

Off The Bench by Chatterbox Sports

In a heated matchup at Great American Ball Park, the Cincinnati Reds fell 5-3 to the Seattle Mariners on April 16, 2025, snapping their four-game win streak. The game, however, was overshadowed by a controversial umpire decision that left Reds fans fuming. In the eighth inning, with the Reds trailing 5-3, star shortstop Elly De La Cruz stole second base, a play that could have shifted momentum. Umpire Chris Segal, however, called De La Cruz out on an interference call, a decision that baffled players, coaches, and fans alike. Posts on X captured the outrage, with fans booing loudly and one user calling it a "phantom call" that changed the game’s outcome. The interference ruling, which occurred with runners on base, killed a potential Reds rally. De La Cruz’s speed and base-stealing prowess (4 steals this season) made the call particularly costly. Despite a valiant effort, including three runs in the seventh fueled by Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jose Trevino, Cincinnati couldn’t overcome the early 5-0 deficit or the disputed call. Cal Raleigh’s two homers and Bryce Miller’s eight strikeouts powered Seattle, while Reds starter Nick Martinez struggled, allowing four runs. X posts reflected fans’ frustration, with some demanding accountability from umpires and others lamenting missed opportunities. The game’s box score shows De La Cruz was caught stealing, but video replays suggested the call was questionable. While umpiring controversies are part of baseball, this incident stung a Reds team fighting to maintain momentum. With a rubber match looming, Cincinnati hopes to rebound against Seattle’s Bryan Woo, but the bitter taste of this loss lingers.