Pirates Get Shafted from Blatant Missed Strike Call

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates squandered their Opening Day matchup against the Miami Marlins, with a blatant umpire error proving costly.

In the bottom of the eighth, Pirates right-handed reliever Colin Holderman ran into trouble. Clinging to a 4-2 lead, he issued a leadoff walk to Marlins left fielder Kyle Stowers. Holderman managed to induce a groundout from designated hitter Jonah Bride and fanned first baseman Matt Mervis, securing two outs, though Stowers advanced to second.

Next, second baseman Otto Lopez singled, driving in Stowers and reaching second base himself after a throw home from Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz. Facing right fielder Dane Myers, Holderman worked a 1-2 count and delivered a fastball that hit the outer upper edge of the strike zone. However, umpire Bill Miller failed to call it strike three.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Myers then capitalized, singling on a pitch outside the zone to drive in Lopez from second, knotting the score at 4-4.

In the top of the ninth, the Pirates couldn’t break the deadlock despite left fielder Tommy Pham’s double, leaving the game tied at 4-4.

Right-hander David Bednar took the mound in relief for the bottom of the ninth, but he surrendered a triple to catcher Nick Fortes. Kyle Stowers then sealed the deal, singling to bring Fortes home for a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory for the Marlins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While the missed strike call by umpire Bill Miller in the eighth wasn’t the sole deciding factor, a correct call could have preserved the Pirates’ 4-3 lead heading into the ninth, giving them a shot to secure the win. Instead, the blown call led to a tying run and set the stage for their eventual defeat in the final frame, costing them an Opening Day triumph.

Earlier, Pittsburgh had built a 4-1 advantage by the sixth. Right fielder Bryan Reynolds delivered a bases-loaded single in the fifth, and second baseman Nick Gonzales smashed a two-run homer in the sixth before exiting due to injury.

The Pirates now look ahead in their four-game series, with the next matchup against the Marlins slated for March 28 at 7:10 p.m.