San Diego Padres star Jake Cronenworth was just involved in a brutal umpire incident that has exasperated MLB fans.
Cronenworth and the Padres are playing the Chicago Cubs in San Diego for a weekend series at PETCO Park. After three innings, the score is 7-1 Cubs. The third inning ended with controversy, however, as the two-time NL All-Star ran into an umpire in the middle of the lane.
Cronenworth attempted to get to second base to beat out a throw that would have gotten him out if he didn’t make it. And well, Cronenworth didn’t make it, so the Cubs tagged him out. The Cubbies can credit blue with an assist, as umpire Ryan Wills got in the Padre’s way and appeared to impede his path to safely reach second base.
Jake Cronenworth is out at second base on a force out, with an assist to the umpire for getting in his way. ⚾️👮♂️pic.twitter.com/lVxbuuPVJr
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) June 4, 2023
This had Cronenworth pretty teed off, as he could be seen staring the umpire down after being ruled out. MLB fans, meanwhile, weren’t too thrilled about it either. Especially Padres fans, if you can believe that.
Swanson isn’t even getting rid of the ball and cronenworth is 2 steps from the bag. That’s so bad by the umpire lol https://t.co/2G6tUzO3TR
— Kevin Crotty (@the_crotty) June 4, 2023
The ump acted like it was Jake Cronenworth's fault. WHAT!
— Matt Skraby (@MattSkraby) June 4, 2023
Jake Cronenworth just got scammed
— Jackson Merrill Fan (@TheDaneGarcia) June 4, 2023
Know what? I take it back. That play was going to be closer than I initially thought. Looked like Cronenworth was attempting to run through the second-base bag to potentially get hung up between second and third. Might've allowed Tatis to score. It at least could've caused chaos. https://t.co/POe16tPAYz
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) June 4, 2023
Needless to say, that umpire will eat some scorn after that, from Padres fans and others alike. he Padres are getting routed as they’ve struggled mightily in recent weeks. Things like this on the basepaths don’t help their cause a whole lot. San Diego is having a brutal run, and this incident might have just been a perfect microcosm of that.
