THE Los Angeles Angels were victims of some poor officiating on Wednesday, and the team broadcasters were livid about it.
In the middle of a crucial part of the game, the Angels were given the short end of the stick from umpire Erich Bacchus.
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Los Angeles Angels broadcasters were left fuming with a strike three callCredit: FanDuel Sports Network
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The strikeout came in a pivotal moment and helped the Mets win the gameCredit: AP
Play-by-play broadcaster Wayne Randazzo and color commentator Mark Gubicza were besides themselves as they watched Bacchus strike out Luis Rengifo in a crucial situation.
The Angels had two men on with two outs against the New York Mets.
Rengifo represented the tying run at the plate while the Angels attempted to come back from a 3-6 deficit.
With the first pitch of the at bat, Diaz fired a ball outside that was called a strike.
“Oh that is so far of the plate,” Gubicza said.
Diaz then fell behind 3-1 and fired another ball outside that should have been ball four, but it was called strike two.
“And it’s… called a strike!” Randazzo said.
“Oh that’s not even close,” Gubicza replied.
On the next pitch, Diaz put another ball in almost the exact same spot that resulted in strike three.
The strikeout call sent the Angels broadcasters into a frenzy.
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“And it’s ball- oh he called that a strike! That’s ridiculous!” Randazzo shouted.
“That is a terrible call and it’s two in a row from umpire Erich Bacchus, the home plate umpire, to end the inning.”
The strikeout killed any momentum that the Angels were building and led to the team’s eventual loss.
“Wow, two not even close to the strike zone,” Gubicza said.
The broadcasters weren’t the only people upset about the calls.
Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery and pitching coach Barry Enright were both ejected from the game for arguing balls and strikes.
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American League Starters
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Catcher: Will Smith, Los Angeles DodgersFirst base: Freddie Freeman, DodgersSecond base: Ketel Marte, Arizona DiamondbacksThird base: Manny Machado, San Diego PadresShortstop: Francisco Lindor, New York MetsOutfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta BravesOutfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago CubsOutfield: Kyle Tucker, CubsDesignated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
The at bat was a representation of how poorly Bacchus called the game between the Mets and Angels.
He missed 17 calls in the game, with 13 of them going against the Angels.
This infuriated fans, who shared their thoughts on social media.
“Struck out looking on ball 6,” one fan said.
“These umps have been terrible all year,” another fan said.
“Umpires need to be held accountable for their performance,” a third fan said.