Did an Umpire’s Missed ABS Challenge Cost the Braves the Game?

One missed signal turned into a five-run nightmare for the Atlanta Braves.

Atlanta’s series against the New York Mets took a dramatic turn Monday when starting pitcher Bryce Elder appeared to request an ABS challenge on a crucial full-count pitch — only for the umpiring crew to miss the signal. What followed was a chaotic first inning that helped send the Braves toward an 8-5 loss at Truist Park.

The defeat marked Atlanta’s third loss in four games and raised fresh questions about a team that had recently looked nearly unstoppable.

A Wild First Inning Puts Atlanta in Trouble

Elder entered the game with an 8-6 record and a 3.69 ERA, but things unraveled quickly.

A.J. Ewing’s fourth-pitch contact created the first strange moment when the ball became lodged beneath the outfield padding. The play was initially treated as a ground-rule double before being officially scored as a double.

The Mets then kept applying pressure.

Francisco Lindor grounded out, but Bo Bichette followed with a single that brought Ewing home. Carson Benge later reached with a walk, putting New York ahead 1-0.

Then came the play that changed everything.

With a full count, Elder appeared to get Benge swinging, while Bichette was caught attempting to steal second. That should have ended the sequence with a strike-’em-out, throw-’em-out double play.

Instead, plate umpire Cory Blaser called the pitch a ball.

Replay showed the pitch was actually a strike, and Elder appeared to tap his cap — the signal for an ABS challenge. Unfortunately for Atlanta, the request went unnoticed.

It was the kind of baseball moment that makes fans stare at the television and ask, “Wait… did everyone just see that?”

Mets Turn the Missed Call Into a Five-Run Explosion

Because the challenge was not recognized, Benge was awarded first base and Bichette was allowed to advance to second.

Jared Young then delivered a single, moving both runners forward. Elder finally recorded another strikeout against Marcus Semien, but the damage was far from finished.

Brett Baty stepped in with the bases loaded and launched the first grand slam of his career.

Just like that, the Mets had turned a potentially inning-ending double play into a 5-0 advantage.

Elder eventually recorded the final out, but every New York hitter had come to the plate during the inning. What should have been a much shorter frame instead became an early disaster for Atlanta.

Umpiring Crew Explains What Happened

Crew chief Andy Fletcher later explained that the umpires were focused on Bichette’s attempted steal and whether there had been interference. That reportedly caused them to miss Elder’s challenge signal.

Even Braves catcher Sean Murphy did not notice the request in real time.

“I didn’t see Bryce signaling in the moment,” Murphy admitted, while also acknowledging that he should have challenged the pitch.

Elder, however, did not put the entire loss on the missed call.

The Braves starter suggested that he could have made his signal more obvious by tapping his cap for longer. He also accepted responsibility for the pitches that followed.

That response may frustrate Braves fans even more — because it is difficult to argue with the pitcher taking accountability after watching a potentially game-changing sequence slip away.

Bryce Elder Struggles Despite Atlanta’s Fightback

Atlanta eventually mounted a comeback attempt, but the early hole proved too deep.

Elder finished with five innings, allowing 10 hits, seven earned runs and three walks while striking out four. His record dropped to 8-7, while his ERA climbed to 4.03.

It was his second-worst performance since a difficult outing against the Milwaukee Brewers in June.

The loss also continued an uncomfortable stretch for Atlanta. The Braves had previously dropped two games to the New York Yankees, meaning they have now lost three of their last four contests.

Still, there is no reason to hit the panic button just yet.

Braves Still Control Their Playoff Destiny

Despite the recent skid, Atlanta remains in strong position in the NL East with a 71-48 record. The Braves are still among MLB’s top teams and remain firmly on track for the postseason.

But the manner of Monday’s loss is what makes it sting.

Atlanta had built an eight-game winning streak before this recent downturn, and now the team must avoid allowing a few frustrating games to snowball into a larger problem.

The Braves have five more games remaining on their current homestand, giving them plenty of opportunity to reset.

For Elder, the goal is even simpler: put Monday behind him and deliver the kind of start that reminds everyone why he entered the game as one of Atlanta’s reliable rotation pieces.

The missed challenge may have changed the course of one inning, but the Braves will ultimately need better pitching and cleaner execution if they want to turn a frustrating stretch back into another winning run.

Atlanta’s 8-5 loss to the Mets will be remembered partly for Brett Baty’s grand slam and partly for the ABS challenge that never happened.

Elder appeared to signal for a review, but the umpiring crew missed it while focusing on the action at second base. The Mets capitalized, scoring five runs in an inning that could have ended much differently.

The Braves remain in excellent playoff position, but their recent slide is a reminder that even strong teams can lose momentum quickly. Now, Atlanta must respond — because in baseball, yesterday’s frustrating call does not get to throw tomorrow’s first pitch.

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