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Pirates' Bubba Chandler Wins Accidental ABS Challenge
TL;DR
Bubba Chandler of the Pittsburgh Pirates won an accidental ABS challenge during a game against the Chicago Cubs. The challenge occurred after a pitch to Moises Ballesteros was reviewed, benefiting Chandler early in the match.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bubba Chandler
Pirates' Bubba Chandler Wins Accidental ABS Challenge originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A misunderstanding benefited the Pittsburgh Pirates early in Sunday's game against the Chicago Cubs.
In his second batter of the game, Bubba Chandler threw a pitch to Cubs designated hitter Moises Ballesteros that appeared to narrowly miss the corner low and inside. A called ball moved the count to 1-1, but play paused for an ABS review.
The ABS challenge overruled home plate umpire Alan Porter, determining that Chandler's pitch just nicked the plate. As a result, the Pirates won a challenge they didn't even make.
Chandler adjusted the back of his cap after the pitch, which Porter misconstrued as the 23-year-old tapping his head to signal a challenge. He appeared to try to explain the situation when walking off the mound at the end of the inning.
SportsNet Pittsburgh shared the bizarre sequence on social media:
The mixup gave Chandler a 0-2 count, and he struck out Ballesteros with a 100-mph fastball on the next pitch. Pittsburgh then staked the right-hander to a 5-0 lead when Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam off former Pirates starter Jameson Taillon in the second inning.
Everyone can laugh at the situation since the Pirates won the challenge, but it wouldn't have been so funny to Chandler and Co. if the call had been upheld. Each team starts a game with two challenges, so it makes little sense to challenge a borderline call in the middle of a first-inning plate appearance.
For MLB's sake, let's hope the same predicament doesn't occur in a more consequential way. The Pirates still shouldn't be too bothered by the incident, as they're up 6-3 with a chance to complete a road sweep over a National League Central opponent.
More MLB: Konnor Griffin Shares Pirates' Humorous Approach To Challenge System
Q&A
What is the ABS challenge that Bubba Chandler won?
The ABS challenge refers to an Automated Ball-Strike system review that assesses the accuracy of pitch calls during a game.
How did the ABS review affect the game between the Pirates and Cubs?
The ABS review paused the game and ultimately benefited Bubba Chandler by confirming a call that helped him in his pitching performance.
Who was the batter involved in Bubba Chandler's ABS challenge?
The batter involved in the ABS challenge was Moises Ballesteros, the designated hitter for the Chicago Cubs.
