Umpire elicits laughs from Brewers’, Rays’ managers after botched call
![]()
It’s been a tough opening week for MLB umpire C.B. Bucknor, who missed a call so egregiously during Tuesday’s game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers that it elicited laughter from both teams’ managers.
Bucknor had already made headlines during Saturday’s game between the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox when he had back-to-back third strike calls overturned by the new replay system.
The maligned umpire didn’t need to be behind the plate for Tuesday’s gaffe.
In the sixth inning, Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers reached base, thanks in part to a clearly errant throw by Rays second baseman Ben Williamson.
But Bucknor, who was serving as the first base umpire, called Bauers out. He reasoned that the runner never touched first base.
The Brewers immediately challenged the ruling, with a replay showing Bauers’ foot landing directly on the base as he beat the throw.
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy and Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash exchanged a laugh from their respective dugouts after the call.
“That is a horrendous call. Where is C.B. Bucknor looking?” Brewers play-by-play announcer Jeff Levering said on the TV broadcast. “C.B. Bucknor wasn’t even looking at the play.”
The Brewers went on to win 6-2.
Bucknor will be the home plate umpire for Wednesday afternoon’s Rays-at-Milwaukee series finale.