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The Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates had a classic game end in controversy on Saturday night.
Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy started the game with an inside-the-park leadoff home run off Pirates star Paul Skenes to start the game. Colorado made out with a 2-1 win, but the Pirates thought they had tied the game in the top of the ninth inning.
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Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly argues with umpire Todd Tichenor after a force out ended the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies in Denver on June 20, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)
Pirates batter Jake Mangum hit a grounder to Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros. The infielder charged the ball and met baserunner Billy Cook simultaneously. The umpires called everyone safe on the field, which would have led to a tie game. Karros was in disbelief as he signaled to his manager to challenge the call.
After the umpires met, Cook was called out for baserunner interference. Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was irate.
“The runner failed to avoid the defender in the act of fielding the baseball; therefore, he’s called out. It’s very simple,” crew chief Todd Tichenor told a pool reporter after the game, via MLB.com.
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Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game in Denver on June 20, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)
Karros said Cook’s cleat “kind of clipped my glove” during the play.
Kelly said he agreed that Cook hit Karros’ glove when he was running to third base. However, he didn’t understand why the umpires had to huddle to get the call correct.
Cook added that he didn’t think he made contact until he saw the replay.
“Just unfortunate how that played out,” he continued.
Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz hit a home run in the first inning – it accounted for Pittsburgh’s only run in the loss.
T.J. Rumfield had the other RBI for Colorado. He scored McCarthy.
Colorado Rockies’ Jake McCarthy returns to the dugout after hitting an inside-the-park home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes in the first inning of a baseball game in Denver on June 20, 2026. (David Zalubowski/AP)
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Colorado improved to 30-47 on the year. Pittsburgh fell to 38-39.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
