Umpires make questionable call, leads to Aaron Boone's ejection
- In the eighth inning, Aaron Judge hit a line drive that was ruled foul by the umpires despite appearing fair.
- The call was reviewed but upheld, leading to a strike-out for Judge on the next pitch.
- Yankees won the game 4-0 but the controversial ruling sparked debate over umpire accuracy.
On April 19, 2025, at George M. Steinbrenner Field in the United States, New York Yankees' star Aaron Judge faced controversy during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. In the eighth inning, Judge hit a powerful line drive down the left field line that many believed should have been ruled a home run, as it appeared to cross the foul pole and landed behind the stadium. However, the umpires called the ball foul after a review, which left the Yankees' dugout in disbelief. The home plate umpire, Adam Beck, subsequently called Judge out on a strike during the next pitch. This call not only incited frustration amongst the Yankees but also led to manager Aaron Boone's ejection when he argued the call. Boone was known to have strongly disagreed with the foul call, stating the umpires' decision was remarkable in standing on the previous call. Despite the controversy surrounding the umpires' decisions, the Yankees managed to secure a 4-0 victory over the Rays, which gave them three wins in the four-game series. New York's pitcher, Max Fried, demonstrated exceptional performance, leading his team while holding the opposition to just two hits. A blown save from Devin Williams during the series had marked the Yankees' only loss. If Judge’s potential home run had been counted, he would have tied with other players for the second-most home runs in Major League Baseball for the season. Yankees fans voiced their anger over the calls made on that day, highlighting issues with umpire decisions and official scoring. The incident unfolded in a stadium regarded as not entirely suitable for regular-season games, generating further debate about the environment in which the game was played and the overall officiating standard. Judge and Boone expressed their frustrations but understood the need to focus on moving forward.