The Cincinnati Reds’ clubhouse was lively following a 10-8 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Cubs faced disappointment as their bullpen struggled to control Cincinnati’s late-game performance.
Much discussion was focused on home plate umpire Bill Miller, who faced a challenging game. He went 0-for-8 on automated ball-strike system challenges, with each overturned. The Cubs won five challenges, and the Reds claimed the remaining three.
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The first reversed call occurred early, when Miller initially labeled Rhett Lowder’s fastball a ball. An ABS challenge confirmed the pitch was within the strike zone. Miller stood on the field during this game and seven more calls were overturned before its end. Only two of eight disputed pitches were strikes.
Chicago catcher Carson Kelly challenged four pitches successfully, while Reds star Jose Trevino managed two. Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart and Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki each secured one victory from the batter’s box. Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, who leads the majors in overturns, made no challenges on Friday.
Miller has been central to ABS controversies before. In a game last month, Reds infielder Edwin Arroyo collided with Miller during play, contributing to a continuation of the inning.
Television captured Cincinnati reliever Caleb Ferguson criticizing Miller on a hot mic during the same game. Ferguson apologized later, calling his reaction unprofessional.
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Data from TapToChallenge.com indicates Miller’s performance Friday was the worst since the challenge system began in 2026. His 70 overturned calls rank ninth among MLB umpires. Leading the list are Hunter Wendelstedt, Dan Iassogna, Malachi Moore, Lance Barrett, and Manny Gonzalez.
This coverage was reported by Chantz Martin for Fox News Digital.