Things unraveled fast for Shane Bieber and the Guardians in the top of the seventh against the Twins. Bieber had been cruising with six solid innings, but a leadoff walk started trouble. Then came a controversial call when a pitch appeared to hit the batter on the hand. Replay showed it hit the knob of the bat, not flesh, but umpire Ron Kulpa ruled it a hit-by-pitch. No review helped, and that decision set the rally in motion.
Gonzalez followed with a single to score a run, cutting the lead and putting pressure on Bieber. With the bases eventually loaded, Jake Cave tried the same move, claiming another pitch hit his hand. This time the replay showed the ball caught a part of his finger, though it overlapped the bat and his hands were drifting over the plate. Kulpa again awarded a base, forcing in another run, despite questions about whether the rule should allow it.
Francona wasn’t happy. Bieber managed one final strikeout before giving way to the bullpen. His reliever gave up a bloop hit that tied the game, spoiling what had been a clean outing. Bieber’s final line got dinged with three earned runs over 6.1 innings in a game marred by questionable umpiring and replay confusion.