Bucknor Exits Brewers-Rays Game After Foul Tip to Mask
Veteran MLB umpire C.B. Bucknor left the Milwaukee Brewers-Tampa Bay Rays game early on Wednesday after a foul-tipped pitch struck his facemask. The incident occurred in the second inning at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski on the mound against Rays batter Nick Fortes. A 100.2 mph pitch from Misiorowski clipped Bucknor's mask, prompting medical staff to assist the 63-year-old umpire off the field.
The exit followed a controversial call by Bucknor the previous night, when he ruled Cleveland Guardians first baseman Jake Bauers out for missing first base without looking at the play. Video showed Bauers' cleat strike the bag squarely. Bucknor then worked home plate Wednesday amid heightened scrutiny on umpires in the automated ball-strike era.
The game paused several minutes while the crew adjusted to three umpires. Milwaukee erupted for six runs in the eighth inning to secure an 8-2 victory, marking their fifth win in six games this season. Bucknor, an umpire since 1996, ranks among MLB's longest-tenured officials and has worked the 2005 and 2021 All-Star Games, five American League Division Series and two no-hitters.
Bucknor has departed at least two prior games due to foul tips, including one in 2013.
