Sports

CB Bucknor Eyes Angel Hernandez’s ‘Worst Ump’ Title With Awful Strike 3 Call After 3-Hr Rain Delay

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St. Louis Cardinals hitter Ivan Herrera strikes out to end a game vs. the Chicago White Sox.

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The St. Louis Cardinals were robbed of a walk-off win opportunity at the end of a Saturday afternoon matchup against the Chicago White Sox.

Trailing by a run in the bottom of the 10th inning, Ivan Herrera stepped up to the dish with a chance for fireworks. Instead, he struck out looking, sending the home crowd dejectedly back to the parking lots.

That ‘strike three’ call caught immediate criticism with the delivery from Tanner Banks appearing to be well outside the zone. Herrera’s reaction said it all as he fell to a squatting position in disbelief.

The call came with the Cardinals having the bases loaded in a one-run game. While a go-ahead base knock is far from guaranteed, the correct ruling would’ve resulted in a 2-2 count and at least one pitch more.

Anything can happen!

Those in attendance voiced their displeasure with the strike, though umpire CB Bucknor showed no remorse. He was ready to call it a day!

The broadcast crew was also vocal about the miss.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” a commentator is heard saying on the air. “After all of that, he’s going to call a pitch that’s off the plate… What a crazy way to end the game. Not even close.”

Ivan Herrera was the first batter to step into the box following a three-hour rain delay. After already having seen the contest drag on into extra innings, it appeared Bucknor just wanted to go home.

Many say he’s now rivaling Angel Hernandez for title of worst umpire in the MLB. The numbers seem to reflect that thus far in 2024!

With the loss, the Cardinals fell to 15-18 on the season.