Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed frustration with veteran umpire C.B. Bucknor following Boston’s 6-5, 11-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Cora was ejected in the eighth inning after disputing a check-swing strike call on Trevor Story. The argument highlighted what Cora and many noticed as an off day for Bucknor.
The game featured eight ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) challenges, with six being overturned. Notably, Reds slugger Eugenio Suarez was called out twice in a row by Bucknor, only for both strikeouts to be overturned upon review. Reds hitters went 5-for-5 on ABS challenges against him, underscoring his inconsistent performance that day.
Despite the frustration, Cora also offered empathy toward Bucknor. “He has one job to do, it’s to call balls and strikes,” Cora said. “It wasn’t his best day… I saw him putting his head down after one of the challenges. And we’re all human. It’s not easy, what we do and what he does.”
Bucknor’s struggles are not entirely surprising; according to Umpire Scorecard, he posted the fifth-lowest call accuracy in the 2025 MLB season, correctly calling 92.81% of pitches. By contrast, Edwin Jimenez led the league with 96.18% accuracy. Bucknor has been part of Major League Baseball’s umpiring crew since 1999, making him one of the most experienced officials, though clearly human errors still arise under the scrutiny of ABS technology.
Saturday’s game served as a reminder that even seasoned umpires can face difficult days, and that the MLB’s review systems are reshaping how calls are evaluated and challenged.
