With the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth, Henry Davis stepped in with a chance to tie the game for the Pirates. After working the count full, Davis took a fastball low and started heading to first, thinking he had walked in the tying run. Instead, the umpire called strike three. Davis exploded, tossing his shin guard and helmet, and was immediately ejected. The Pirates dugout and manager erupted, furious about the call. Replay showed the pitch was low, likely outside the strike zone, making the ump’s decision even more controversial.
Things didn’t cool down in the bottom of the inning. Andrew McCutchen stayed at the top step of the dugout, refusing to take his eyes off the young umpire, Edwin Gimenez. Every Pirates hitter that inning, including Luis Arraez, seemed distracted or disinterested, clearly sending a message. McCutchen never stopped staring, not even as the inning ended. When the game wrapped with a Pirates loss, McCutchen was still on the top step. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for—the umpire had to walk past him. The dugout braced for it, and sure enough, there was a brief but intense confrontation. Voices were raised, and it ended with more shouting as the ump hurried away down the tunnel. The call didn’t just take away a chance to tie the game—it lit up the entire team for the rest of the night.