Padres announcer Mark Grant, fans slam call vs Diamondbacks: 'You gotta be shaving me!'
The calls sometimes go your way in baseball and they sometimes don't.
A game-ending strike call did not go the San Diego Padres' way in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday and it had a Padres announcer and Padres fans fuming.
In the bottom of the ninth, Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald struck out Jake Cronenworth on a called third strike pitch that was high and outside, preventing the Padres from having a chance to at least tie the game with Jurickson Profar on base from having walked before Cronenworth's appearance at the plate.
Home plate umpire Erich Bacchus immediately endured Cronenworth's complaining, manager Mike Shildt in his face and loud boos from the San Diego fans at Petco Park, who had hopes of a rally against Arizona.
But Padres announcer Mark Grant especially teed off on Bacchus on the TV broadcast for San Diego.
"Brutal! Horrible! Took the bat right out of the kid's hands! Wasn't even close!" Grant said. "You gotta be shaving me!"
More: Corbin Carroll’s swing comes alive with three-hit day to lead Diamondbacks' win at Padres
"BRUTAL! HORRIBLE! TOOK THE BAT RIGHT OUT OF THE KID'S HANDS! WASN'T EVEN CLOSE! YOU GOTTA BE SHAVING ME!" - Padres color commentator Mark Grant after a brutal strike 3 call to end a 1-run game vs the D-Backs ⚾️ 🎙️👮♂️ pic.twitter.com/HT5447SD6v
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 7, 2024
Social media sounded off on the game-ending strike call for the Padres:
Must’ve been an angel Hernandez tribute night. Awful performance from the home plate ump
— Shawn (@selliot__) June 7, 2024
The home plate ump tonight was on something
That one at least was borderline. The one in the third inning with two strikes and two outs was laughably bad— JaguarGator9 (@JaguarGator9NFL) June 7, 2024
That was awful!
— DA_Jack_ McCoy_ 49ers!™ (@TerrenceBD) June 7, 2024
Umpire put his life savings on dbacks
— Ryan 138 (@ImnotRs_) June 7, 2024
We need some limited replay reviews and/or accountability to get calls right
— Steve Helwagen (@SteveHelwagen) June 7, 2024
Angel Hernandez junior behind the plate?
— Bill Hunt (@BillHuntFreddy) June 7, 2024
Wasn’t the worst call ever BUT it was a ball. Whether I’m rooting for or against the team, I think it’s time for Robo umps to buzz in the balls and strikes. pic.twitter.com/mpvM4d8LoY
— Hi 🪬 (@SacKingSF49Gnts) June 7, 2024
Umpire had $ on the game
— Joe Lawson (@DirtFiction) June 7, 2024
Ngl that was out of the strike zone and it wasn’t even close
— ben osowski (@BenOsowski1) June 7, 2024
Awful call. Automated balls & strikes, now.
— DenverGooner (@leidig_jeff) June 7, 2024
What do you think of the call?
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Padres announcer Mark Grant, fans slam call in loss to Diamondbacks
