Watch: Replay Review Calls PCA Out Following Slide into 2B on Walk
Well, this is something you don’t see every day. Or ever. Pete Crow-Armstrong was on first base following a leadoff walk in the top of the 7th with the Cubs leading 7-2. Alex Bregman popped out, then Michael Busch ran the count full. PCA took off for second and the catcher threw down, but the ump called ball four and Busch took his base.
Pete Crow-Armstrong attempted to steal on ball four and gets ruled out because he lost possession of second base on the slide.
Craig Counsell was ejected after review. pic.twitter.com/MSOHqW6iZT
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) June 24, 2026
The ump at second made no call because of the walk, but shortstop Bo Bichette kept the tag on PCA, who briefly lost contact with the bag. The Mets then challenged the non-call, and the replay review inexplicably ruled the runner out. A lot of folks mistakenly believe that a walk results in a dead ball, but it doesn’t. That said, the runner has the right to the next base in that situation and can advance at his own peril.
However, this wasn’t a situation in which the runner was trying to advance. Nor can he be contacted prior to reaching the base to which he is entitled because that would be obstruction, so this was a wild application of the rule. The Cubs ended up winning, but what a wild situation. Even the Mets announcers thought it was BS.
The play that resulted in PCA being called out on a steal attempt during Ball 4: pic.twitter.com/DHSv0KD39y https://t.co/tmjAfeuEVu
— Meghan Montemurro (@MegMontemurro) June 24, 2026
Oh, PCA also hit a three-run homer and drew another walk. His 10 June homers are more than any other player in MLB and he now has 30 walks on the season, one more than he had all of last year.
