Rays' Josh Lowe, Matt Thaiss Move On From Umpire's Horrible Call

Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Josh Lowe and catcher Matt Thaiss don't have any plans to chastise umpire Bruce Dreckman for a badly missed call that cost the team early in Monday's game against the Orioles.

Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Josh Lowe (15) runs toward second base during a game at Houston last month. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Josh Lowe laid down a beautiful bunt in the first inning Monday night, and the Tampa Bay outfielder was several feet past first base when Ryan O'Hearn caught the ball.

First base umpire Bruce Dreckman called him out anyway. Lowe couldn't believe it, and told him so. No one could believe it, especially the hundreds of thousands of people who watched the replay on social media. Lowe was safe by at least six feet.

Lowe told Dreckman “you missed that one, bad.”

Rays' Josh Lowe repeated "you missed that one bad" to the umpire after the out call at first

The Rays did not have any challenges left pic.twitter.com/Bunfz3NO6R

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 17, 2025

Rays manager Kevin Cash joined in protest, but the effort was fruitless because the Rays lost their challenge in the top of the first, when a call on a pick-off play— also at first base — stood. They didn't have another challenge to change Dreckman's call.

It turned out that the blown call didn't matter. Tampa Bay ended up prevailed with ease, winning 7-1. However, Lowe didn’t forget the call.

“He missed the call, you know, it wasn’t a great call,” Lowe said Monday night. “Mistakes happen, but I wish we had a challenge in that situation.

“Humans make errors, like, I get it,” Lowe added. “Wish he could have been better in the moment, but it is what it is.”

For Game 2 of the series Tuesday night, Dreckman’s choices will hold greater weight as he assumes duties behind home plate, it will also give Lowe and catcher Matt Thaiss an open avenue at communicating with Thaiss about the call.

However, Thaiss is going to leave the matter alone, saying those kinds of conversations don’t often occur, even spending nine innings together behind home plate.

“No, not really,” Thaiss said in the Rays' clubhouse before Tuesday's game. “It just depends on the relationship you have with the umpires, but not really.”

The Rays seek their fifth straight victory Tuesday night at 7:35 p.m. ET

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