Umpire rings up batter on strike 2 in back to back at-bats, a breakdown

Lars Newt steps into the batter's box for the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-handed slugger, who played both football and baseball at USC, looks focused as he digs in against Kansas City Royals pitcher Brady Keller. On the first pitch, the umpire calls it a strike, making the count 0-1. Newt fouls off the next offering, evening the count at 1-1. The next pitch is low, and Newt takes it for ball two. Royals catcher Salvador Perez and the umpire briefly discuss the count, ensuring they have it right - it's now 2-1. Newt spits on the next pitch, which misses the zone. The umpire initially signals a strike, then corrects himself, yelling "You're out!" to Newt's confusion. The umpire admits his mistake, saying "Damn it, damn it, damn it. Embarrassing myself." On the very next pitch, the umpire again rings up Newt, this time correctly calling strike three. Newt trudges back to the dugout, clearly frustrated with the umpire's blunders. In his next at-bat, Newt steps back into the box, taking the first pitch for a ball. The next offering is a called strike, making it 1-1. The umpire then calls the following pitch a strike, but Newt and the Cardinals' dugout vehemently disagree, arguing it was only the second strike. The umpire acknowledges his mistake, saying "Awfully embarrassing." On the very next pitch, Newt rips a single back up the middle, and the Pointer Brothers congratulate him as he trots to first base. Despite the umpire's struggles, Lars Newt remains professional, thanking the ump and his coach as he reaches base safely. This back-and-forth between the batter and the umpire provides a memorable moment in this Cardinals-Royals matchup, highlighting the human element and occasional mistakes that are part of the game of baseball.