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A.J. Hinch Ejected After Controversial Call Confirmed by Replay in Extra Innings

Blake Silverman|
Pham slides into home as Rogers works to get the tag down
Pham slides into home as Rogers works to get the tag down | Screengrab via SportsNet Pittsburgh

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Detroit TigersPittsburgh Pirates

The nightcap of the day-night doubleheader between the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates had it all Thursday.

The Tigers' mascot tried—and failed—to troll Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Pirates reliever Dennis Santana took a swipe at a fan from the dugout. And to finish the night, there was a rain delay in a tied game during the bottom of the ninth inning. When play resumed, the game went to extra innings and the Pirates scored the go-ahead run on a controversial call.

In the top of the 10th inning, Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a single to right as he pinch hit for Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz. Tommy Pham was on second and was waved home, which made for a bang-bang play at the plate. Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter threw a dart to home that catcher Jake Rogers gathered as Pham slid home.

Pham was called safe which gave the Pirates the lead, but Tigers manager A.J. Hinch challenged the call. Rogers's glove clearly was on top of Pham before his hands could touch the plate—the question was whether Rogers tagged him or if the tag went over Pham's arms before he touched home plate.

After review, the call stood and Pham remained safe with the go-ahead run staying on the board. Hinch quickly ran out of the dugout to argue the call and earned his first ejection of the season. You can watch the full sequence below:

And here's a couple screengrabs of the tag. The first appears to show Rogers get it down for an out at the plate, but the second—and the video review—looked to show the tag went just over Pham's arm.

The Pirates scored three more runs in the 10th inning and went on to win 8–4. The Tigers took the first game of their Thursday doubleheader 9–2.

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Blake Silverman
BLAKE SILVERMAN

Blake Silverman is a writer at Sports Illustrated, primarily covering the NBA and WNBA. Before joining SI in November 2024 as a breaking/trending news writer, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation and A10Talk. He’s an alum of both Michigan State and St. Bonaventure University, receiving a master’s degree from the Bonnies’ sports journalism program. Outside of work, he’s a husband, father, yogi and fairly mediocre tennis player who’s open to any tips on how to play defense in EA Sports College Football.

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