Tue Oct 28 01:40:00 UTC 2025: News Article:
Controversial Strike Call Leads to Base Running Blunder for Blue Jays in World Series Game
LOS ANGELES – A disputed strike call in the top of the second inning of the World Series opener between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers has ignited controversy and cost the Blue Jays a potential scoring opportunity.
With Daulton Varsho at the plate and Bo Bichette on first base, Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivered a pitch that appeared to be outside the strike zone. Varsho, believing he had drawn a walk, began to discard his bat. However, home plate umpire Mark Wegner signaled strike two at the last second, causing Bichette to break for second base, thinking Varsho had walked. Glasnow quickly threw to first, and Bichette was tagged out, resulting in an unconventional out on the basepaths.
While Varsho did eventually walk, the Blue Jays were unable to capitalize, stranding runners on the corners. “I think [Bichette] thought it was a ball,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters during the game. “I think a runner’s assumption, obviously, is the umpire is telling Varsh that it was a ball — for him to throw his bat like that. So it’s a weird play.”
The play proved detrimental to the Blue Jays, who could have taken an early lead and put pressure on Glasnow. The Dodgers’ bullpen is considered a potential weakness, making it crucial for opposing teams to drive up the starter’s pitch count.
Schneider acknowledged Wegner’s experience but questioned the delay in the call. “Mark’s a great umpire, been doing it a long time,” Schneider said. “Very delayed call, pretty deliberate. He just didn’t say anything, so Varsh assumed it was a ball and Bo assumed. I just asked him, in this environment, can he be a little bit quicker or give a little bit of clarity so everyone kind of knows what’s going on.”
The incident also disrupted Bichette’s momentum, who had previously singled up the middle despite playing through a left knee sprain.
First Piper 