The Seattle Mariners beat the Washington Nationals 8-4 Monday night and they got a big assist from home plate umpire Mark Carlson. He rung up Jeimer Candelario looking to end the game on a pitch so far outside it qualifies as one of the worst strike calls of the 2023 MLB season.
The Nats entered the top of the ninth trailing 8-3. They got a run across and loaded the bases with two outs. That led Seattle to call in closer Paul Sewald to finish things off. He faced Candelario, and got ahead 1-2. He then threw a backdoor sweeper that was not close to the plate. Carlson didn't care, he ended the game by calling strike three.
Check this out:
I mean, that's ridiculous. Bases loaded, the game is in grand slam range and you call that a strike? Shameful. Have to feel awful for Candelario who is just trying to do his job.
Side note, the announce saying, "If you say so" to that call is fantastic work.
This article was originally published on thebiglead as Umpire Mark Carlson Ends Mariners-Nationals Game on Horrific Strike Call.
