Just about everybody in Oriole Park at Camden Yards thought Pete Alonso had hit his second home run of the game to give the Baltimore Orioles the lead over the New York Yankees on Wednesday night. But not third-base umpire Will Little.
With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, a towering blast from Alonso down the left-field line was ruled foul by Little. Alonso, the Orioles, Baltimore fans, and the MASN broadcast crew couldn’t believe it.
“OH NO!” MASN play-by-play Kevin Brown exclaimed after the ruling.
“That’s a fair ball… That is inside the pole, and Pete knows it,” Brown added after the MASN broadcast showed replays.
And after replay review, it remained a foul ball.
“OH MY GOSH! COME ON, WILL!” Brown reacted after Little’s announcement.
The Orioles couldn’t believe this potential go-ahead home run from Pete Alonso was called foul. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Wb8Q3AZT6d
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 20, 2026
Even the Prime Video Yankees broadcast crew thought it was a home run.
“That looks fair,” Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay said as Prime Video showed a replay.
After further review, the ball was ruled foul.
No home run for Pete Alonso. pic.twitter.com/xnzXUDDHpn
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) August 20, 2026
After replay review officially ruled it a foul ball, Orioles color commentator Jim Palmer called for using modern technology to have electronic measurements for such plays.
“You know, I’m kind of wondering. With all the electronic stuff, why can’t they put a laser on top of the pole, somehow in your, in New York?” Palmer asked.
“You got automatic first-down measurements in football now,” Brown responded. “There should be some way to do it.”
Jim Palmer: “With all the electronic stuff, why can’t they put a laser on top of the pole, somehow in your, in New York?”
Kevin Brown: “You got automatic first-down measurements in football now. There should be some way to do it.” https://t.co/9XQSy3YQCj pic.twitter.com/KYNPZbFUW4
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 20, 2026
The MLB Replay Command Center released a statement on the ruling:
“After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official could not definitively determine that the ball left the playing field in fair territory. The call stands, and it is a foul ball.”
The Yankees went on to win the game 5-3.
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at Awful Announcing and The Comeback.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@awfulannouncing.com.