Cincinnati Reds Celebrate Win Against Cubs Despite Umpire Controversy

The atmosphere in the Cincinnati Reds’ clubhouse was buzzing with excitement after their 10-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday. In contrast, the Cubs weren’t in a celebratory mood, especially after their bullpen faltered during Cincinnati’s late-game rally.

A significant part of the postgame discussion revolved around home plate umpire Bill Miller, who may wish to erase this game from his memory. He was unsuccessful on all eight automated ball-strike system challenges, with all calls being overturned. The Cubs successfully won five of those challenges, while the Reds managed to win three.

The first overturned call happened fairly early in the game. Initially, Miller called a fastball from Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder a ball, but a successful challenge using the automated system showed the pitch was actually in the strike zone.

Things didn’t get any better for Miller as the game progressed. Seven more calls were overturned before the final out, and only two of the eight pitches he initially ruled as strikes were maintained. Notably, Cubs catcher Carson Kelly contested four pitches, while Reds player Jose Trevino disputed two. Additionally, Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart and Chicago outfielder Seiya Suzuki each won their own challenges from the batter’s box.

Interestingly, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson didn’t raise any challenges during this game, despite leading the major leagues with 88 successful overturns out of 124 attempts.

More challenges surrounded Miller in previous matches as well. In a recent Cincinnati game, for instance, Reds infielder Edwin Arroyo collided with him while trying to field a ground ball. That incident was partially blamed for the Reds failing to secure the third out, prolonging the inning.

In an awkward moment caught on camera, Cincinnati reliever Caleb Ferguson was overheard giving an expletive-filled rant directed at Miller regarding his role in the game. Ferguson later expressed remorse, stating, “It’s just a very unprofessional thing on my part. I know these things happen in the game, but I don’t like that I was kind of the centerpiece of what was going on.”

Data from TapToChallenge.com reveals that Miller’s 0-for-8 showing during Friday’s game is likely the worst performance by an umpire since the automated challenge system was launched in 2026. Remarkably, Miller’s 70 overturned calls place him ninth among MLB umpires, with Hunter Wendelstedt leading the pack.