Apr 16, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Home plate umpire Sean Barber (29) calls a strike during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers were the victims of three questionable strikeout calls during their 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers faced off against the Chicago Cubs in their series finale on Sunday afternoon. The Cubs took the first game on Friday by the score of 8-2, while the Dodgers secured a 2-1 victory on Saturday night on a walk-off, two-run single by David Peralta. For the Dodgers, they were caught in another close game, but ended up on the losing end, falling 3-2. Unfortunately for them, there was some controversy.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Peralta, Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman were all called out on strikes by home plate umpire Sean Barber. That allowed relieve Brad Boxberger to clinch the win for the Cubs and earn the save. But the thing is, all three of those called strikes were actually outside of the zone, which you could see on the broadcast.
Dodgers screwed over by 3 awful strikeout calls in loss to Cubs
That won’t make any team or their fanbase feel any better about the loss when they see that those calls contributed to it. Especially when Freeman had the game-tying run at first base in Mookie Betts.
Let’s take a look at some of the reactions on social media about Barber’s pivotal strikeout calls.
While the way they loss is bad, at least it didn’t happen in a pivotal game with postseason implications. That would have made it that much worst. But, the Dodgers still find themselves one game back of first place in the NL West with an 8-8 record.
The Dodgers will face the New York Mets in a three-game series before going to Chicago to face the Cubs again in a four-game set.
