Bohm ejected by call-up umpire after spiking bat, helmet on pivotal strikeout

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm was tossed from Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins after spiking his bat and helmet following a questionable third-strike call.

The third strike was given by call-up umpire Alex MacKay, who was working his 13th game behind the dish this season. Following the 3-2 pitch being ruled a strike to end the seventh inning, with Twins lefty Caleb Thielbar escaping the bases-loaded jam to protect a two-run lead, Bohm threw his bat down. MacKay seemed to warn Bohm at first, but the third baseman then threw his helmet down and was ejected.

The Phillies' broadcast indicated the pitch appeared to be inside and off the plate. It therefore should've ended the plate appearance for Bohm with an RBI walk while cutting the Twins' lead in half. Minnesota wound up tacking on an insurance run in the ninth and winning 3-0.

This was MacKay's first game behind the plate since July 16. He ranks in the 22nd percentile entering Sunday among MLB umpires in consistency, according to Ump Scorecards.

Both the Phillies and Twins are playing crucial games and competing for playoff spots. Philadelphia sits second in the NL East and occupies the top wild-card position in the Senior Circuit despite the loss. Minnesota sits atop the AL Central, 4.5 games ahead of the second-place Cleveland Guardians, who are well behind in the wild-card hunt.