Home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor had a rough day at the office.
Bucknor saw six calls overturned by the new ABS challenge system during the Cincinnati Reds' 6-5 win in extras over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
The 63-year-old had back-to-back third strikes reversed by Eugenio Suárez's challenges in the sixth inning.
C.B. Bucknor tried to ring up Eugenio Suárez on back-to-back pitches.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) March 28, 2026
Suárez challenged both and won both challenges.
(H/T: @tylermilliken_) pic.twitter.com/erzchAXPw0
The Reds went 5-for-5 on challenges in the contest, while the Red Sox were 1-for-3.
Bucknor also punched out Trevor Story on a check-swing call in the eighth without asking for help from the first base ump. Story was livid with the call, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora was eventually ejected after supporting his player.
Home plate umpire CB Bucknor ruled Trevor Story swung here
— NESN (@NESN) March 28, 2026
🤔🧐 pic.twitter.com/kMKTsQpWik
"He has one job to do: call balls and strikes," Cora said postgame, according to NESN. "It wasn't his best day. That's what the system does. It's out there. Everybody sees it. He'll be the first one to accept it. I saw him putting his head down after one of the challenges. We're all human."
Bucknor, who's one of the longest-tenured active umps, has worked in the majors since 1996.
