Red Sox pitcher has 3-pitch strikeout that ump missed, Astros walk instead

Bizarre sequence of events led to a walk instead of a strikeout in Tuesday's game.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:07am

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In the fifth inning of Tuesday's game between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros, Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello recorded three swinging strikes against Astros hitter Cam Smith. However, the umpire failed to call the third strike, and Smith was eventually awarded a walk after more pitches, despite the clear strikeout.

Why it matters

This highly unusual sequence of events highlights the importance of umpires maintaining an accurate count and the need for better mechanisms to ensure mistakes like this don't slip through. It also reflects poorly on the Red Sox, who were already trailing in a game they ended up losing 9-2.

The details

Bello's first three pitches to Smith were all swinging strikes, but the umpire, Mark Wegner, did not call the third strike. The Red Sox then threw the ball around the field, allowing a run to score, before Smith eventually worked a walk despite the clear strikeout earlier in the at-bat.

  • The incident occurred in the fifth inning of the April 1, 2026 game between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros.

The players

Brayan Bello

The Boston Red Sox pitcher who recorded the three-pitch strikeout that was not called.

Cam Smith

The Houston Astros hitter who was awarded a walk despite the clear strikeout.

Mark Wegner

The home plate umpire who failed to call the third strike in the at-bat.

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What they’re saying

“This should've been a strikeout for Brayan Bello. Instead Cam Smith walked.”

— Tyler Milliken

The takeaway

This bizarre sequence of events highlights the need for better mechanisms to ensure umpires maintain an accurate count and don't miss clear strikeouts, which can have a significant impact on the outcome of a game. It also reflects poorly on the Red Sox, who were already struggling in a lopsided loss.