In a thrilling matchup at Comerica Park on June 20, 2025, the Pittsburgh Pirates edged out the Detroit Tigers 5-4 in a 10th-inning nail-biter, marked by a contentious call at home plate involving Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham. The game, which saw stellar performances and heated exchanges, culminated in Tigers manager A.J. Hinch’s ejection and raised questions about a peculiar detail uncovered during the broadcast.
The Pirates, struggling with a 29-45 record, faced a formidable Tigers squad (47-27), who held a half-game lead for the best record in baseball. The game remained close, with both teams trading blows. In the top of the 10th, with Tommy Pham on third as the automatic runner, Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes singled off Tigers pitcher Brant Hurter. Pham dashed home, sliding in just as Tigers catcher Jake Rogers received the throw. Umpires called Pham safe, a decision that sent ripples through the stadium.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch immediately challenged the call, prompting a replay review. After a tense few minutes, the call was upheld, confirming Pham’s run, which gave the Pirates a 5-4 lead. Furious, Hinch argued vehemently with the umpires, resulting in his swift ejection. His frustration was palpable, as the Tigers’ bullpen had been stretched thin, with key pitchers like Reese Olson sidelined by injury.
The Pirates’ victory was sealed in the bottom of the 10th when closer David Bednar secured his 10th save of the season, thwarting a Tigers comeback. Pittsburgh’s lineup, featuring veterans like Andrew McCutchen and emerging stars like Paul Skenes, showed resilience despite their last-place standing. Tommy Pham, no stranger to controversy, was pivotal in the win, though his performance this season has drawn mixed reactions from Pirates fans. Recently, Pham marked a 10-year MLB milestone, yet faced backlash for perceived underperformance in Pittsburgh.
However, the game’s most intriguing moment came during the broadcast, when analysts uncovered a questionable fact: the baseballs used in the game appeared to have unusually high seams, a detail echoed by Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen in a recent post on X. McCutchen claimed the league admitted to using baseballs with higher seams in 2025, which increase drag and reduce the distance of hits. This revelation sparked speculation about whether the altered baseballs affected the game’s outcome, particularly in a low-scoring, tightly contested match where every hit mattered.
The Tigers, known for their pitching prowess with a 3.35 ERA (fourth-best in MLB), struggled to capitalize offensively, with their leadoff hitters ranking 21st in OPS. Despite a strong outing from starter Tarik Skubal earlier in the series, the Tigers’ bats couldn’t overcome Pittsburgh’s pitching, led by Bailey Falter and Andrew Heaney in prior games.
Hinch’s ejection wasn’t his first brush with controversy this season. He previously supported Javier Báez during a fiery ejection against the Giants, emphasizing team unity. For the Pirates, manager Don Kelly, a former Tigers coach, faced his old team with a chip on his shoulder, having been ejected three times in his first 20 games as Pittsburgh’s skipper.
This game underscored the Pirates’ grit and the Tigers’ resilience, but the questionable baseball seam issue left fans and analysts buzzing. Was the call at home influenced by the ball’s behavior? Did the higher seams affect the Tigers’ ability to mount a comeback? These questions linger as both teams head toward the July 31 trade deadline, with rumors swirling about potential moves. For now, Pittsburgh celebrates a hard-fought win, while Detroit regroups, hoping to maintain their lead in the AL Central.
