CB Bucknor Blows Call, Then Gets Hit at Brewers Game

CB Bucknor's Wild Two Days: Blown Call, Laughter, and a Foul Tip to the Face

If you searched "Brewers game today" on April 2, 2026, you likely found more than just a box score. The Milwaukee Brewers vs. Tampa Bay Rays series has become the unlikely center of MLB conversation — not because of a walk-off home run or a no-hitter, but because of one umpire's spectacularly turbulent 48 hours. Veteran umpire CB Bucknor managed to blow an obvious call on Tuesday, get openly mocked by broadcast announcers, draw laughter from both team managers, and then exit Wednesday's game after taking a 100-mph foul tip directly to the facemask. It's the kind of story that writes itself.

Here's everything you need to know about what happened at American Family Field during this unforgettable Rays-Brewers series.

The Blown Call That Broke the Internet

It started with what should have been a routine play. During Tuesday's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers, first-base umpire CB Bucknor ruled that Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers had missed the bag on a single. Replay footage made it immediately — and embarrassingly — clear that Bauers had stepped squarely on first base.

The Brewers challenged the call, and it was swiftly overturned. But the damage to Bucknor's credibility wasn't so easily reversed. According to Yahoo Sports, Brewers play-by-play announcer Jeff Levering didn't hold back on the broadcast, saying plainly: "That is a horrendous call" and following up with the observation that "CB Bucknor was not even looking at the play." Analyst Bill Schroeder piled on as well, and the clip quickly went viral.

Adding an almost comedic layer to the episode, both managers found the situation amusing. Rays manager Kevin Cash and Brewers manager Pat Murphy were both seen laughing at the ordeal — a rare moment of cross-dugout unity in a game that usually pits the two benches against each other.

"That is a horrendous call. CB Bucknor was not even looking at the play."
— Brewers play-by-play announcer Jeff Levering

A Season Already Defined by Umpiring Errors

Tuesday's botched call didn't come out of nowhere. Bucknor, 63, had already drawn scrutiny earlier in the 2026 season when five of his strike calls were overturned in a single game under MLB's new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system — a technology-assisted review process that allows players to challenge ball and strike calls using a computerized strike zone.

The ABS system, introduced as part of MLB's ongoing effort to improve umpiring accuracy, has put a spotlight on umps who struggle with consistency. Having five overturned calls in a single game is an extraordinary number, and it set the stage for the kind of scrutiny Bucknor faced when the first-base misread happened just days later.

For fans who follow umpire performance closely, Bucknor has long been one of the more polarizing figures in the game. His Tuesday performance — and the reactions it generated — reignited a longstanding debate about accountability in MLB officiating. You can read more about the reaction from MSN Sports.

Wednesday: A Foul Tip Ends Bucknor's Day Early

If Tuesday was embarrassing, Wednesday was genuinely alarming. Working behind the plate for the April 2 game, Bucknor was struck in the facemask by a 100-mph foul tip in the second inning. The pitch came off the bat of Rays catcher Nick Fortes, thrown by Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski.

Bucknor went down and stayed on the ground, with a 13-minute delay halting the game while trainers attended to him. He was eventually helped off the field and did not return. First-base umpire Chad Fairchild stepped in to take over behind the plate for the remainder of the game, according to the Associated Press.

Foul tips to the mask at triple-digit velocities are a known hazard for home-plate umpires, and the incident was a sobering reminder of just how physically demanding — and dangerous — the job can be. Misiorowski had been dominant in the early going, striking out four of the first five batters he faced before the delay interrupted his rhythm.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel covered the incident in detail, noting the extended delay and Bucknor's slow recovery before being helped from the field.

Jacob Misiorowski's Strong Outing — Before the Interruption

Lost somewhat in the umpire drama was the performance of Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski, who was dealing before the foul-tip delay. Striking out four of the first five batters he faced is an excellent early-inning start for any pitcher, and Misiorowski showed the kind of velocity and stuff that makes him an intriguing piece of the Milwaukee rotation.

Whether the extended delay affected his command or pitch count in a meaningful way remains part of the game's storyline, but his early dominance against a Tampa Bay lineup that can be tough to navigate didn't go unnoticed. Brewers fans looking for reasons for optimism this season got a solid preview of what Misiorowski can bring to the mound.

What the CB Bucknor Controversy Tells Us About MLB Umpiring

The two-day Bucknor saga touches on something larger than one umpire's rough stretch. MLB has been under increasing pressure from fans, players, and analysts to modernize its officiating. The ABS challenge system is one step in that direction, and its early results — like revealing that Bucknor had five calls overturned in a single game — are adding data to a conversation that's been building for years.

Critics of the current system argue that umpires who consistently underperform face little formal accountability. Supporters of human umpires counter that the job is extraordinarily difficult and that mistakes are inevitable at professional speed. What's harder to dismiss is the combination of events in this series: a misread first-base call that wasn't even close, broadcast announcers calling it out live on air, and managers on both sides laughing — all in the same week.

The MSN report on Bucknor's injury notes that the incident added yet another twist to an already newsworthy series — and keeps the spotlight on how MLB handles umpire performance going forward.

For fans who want to follow along at home or bring the ballpark experience into their living room, gear like an MLB official game ball or a Milwaukee Brewers jersey are perennial favorites among fans looking to stay connected to the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to CB Bucknor during the Brewers game?

On April 2, 2026, CB Bucknor was struck in the facemask by a 100-mph foul tip from Rays catcher Nick Fortes during the second inning of the Rays-Brewers game. He stayed down for 13 minutes before being helped off the field and was replaced behind the plate by first-base umpire Chad Fairchild.

What was the blown call CB Bucknor made against the Brewers?

On Tuesday (the day before), Bucknor ruled that Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers had missed first base on a single. Replay clearly showed Bauers had stepped on the bag. The Brewers challenged the call and it was overturned. Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering called it "a horrendous call" live on air.

Who is pitching for the Brewers today?

Jacob Misiorowski started on the mound for Milwaukee on April 2, and struck out four of the first five batters he faced before a 13-minute delay caused by the CB Bucknor foul-tip incident interrupted the game.

What is MLB's ABS challenge system?

The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system allows players to challenge ball and strike calls using a computerized strike zone for review. It was introduced as part of MLB's broader officiating reform efforts. CB Bucknor had five strike calls overturned in a single game under this system earlier in the 2026 season.

How did the Brewers and Rays managers react to Bucknor's blown call?

Both managers — Rays skipper Kevin Cash and Brewers manager Pat Murphy — were seen laughing at the situation. The cross-dugout amusement underscored just how obvious and indefensible the original call appeared to everyone on the field.

Conclusion

The 2026 Rays-Brewers series will be remembered less for its on-field drama between the two clubs and more for an umpire who made headlines for all the wrong reasons — twice in as many days. CB Bucknor's blown first-base call drew mockery from broadcasters, laughter from managers, and renewed calls for umpiring accountability. Then, almost as if scripted, he was removed from the very next game after a frightening foul-tip to the facemask at 100 mph.

It's a story that encapsulates the current moment in Major League Baseball: a sport embracing new technology to police officiating errors, grappling publicly with longtime questions about umpire performance, and occasionally producing moments so absurd that even the managers can't help but laugh. Whether you're a Brewers fan, a Rays fan, or just a baseball fan who happened to search what was happening at the ballpark today — now you know.