Referee Chad Fairchild apparently missed a three-hit call during the Mets-Braves game in New York on Monday, but he didn’t miss the opportunity for an unusual exchange with the pitcher. (Watch the video below.)
Mets pitcher Chris Bassitt fired what looked like a third strike past Atlanta’s Dansby Swanson in the fifth inning with the Mets ahead, 2-1. Fairchild, however, called it a bullet. SNY’s broadcast team said Fairchild “clearly missed” making the right call.
Fairchild apparently agreed. As Bassitt left the mound without allowing an inning run despite Swanson walking, Fairchild pointed the pitcher and patted his stomach in a “my bad” gesture.
Bassitt said afterwards that he also apologized to Fairchild for showing it while walking to the dugout after the call.
“He said he was wrong. I said I was wrong,” Bassitt said. “I was like, okay, move on.”
While the referee’s open admission was unexpected, the “exchange of mea culpas” between player and referee was rare, ESPN noted.
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