So it’s proven once again — even a single call can turn the entire momentum of the game. During Saturday’s game, where the San Diego Padres dominated the Boston Red Sox by 5-4 at Petco Park, it was the umpiring lapse by umpire C.B. Bucknor that stood out more than the loss. The spiraling moment came during the bottom of the 10th inning. Ramón Laureano, who was recently acquired by the Padres at this trade deadline, singled in Xander Bogaerts from second base with no outs.
That hit broke the tie and added to the Padres’ win, but the lead-up to that moment was marked by a controversial call by Bucknor. It was later called out by MLB broadcasters, play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien, and commentator Lou Merloni, in the aftermath.
The Red Sox had a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning when Giolito allowed Fernando Tatis Jr. a leadoff single. After walking four batters, including Ryan O’Hearn with bases loaded, Lucas Giolito was lifted.
“How are we not getting that?!”
Padres proceeded to score two after this “walk” pic.twitter.com/4wlnRhPs4c
— NESN (@NESN) August 10, 2025
He walked Jackson Merrill on four pitches while throwing one strike to Bogaerts and O’Hearn. All the trouble then began with a disputed call coming from umpire Bucknor. He ruled the pitch a ball. It awarded the hitter a walk that loaded the bases. Later, NESN’s O’Brien and Merloni called out Bucker on social media over the strike call. “How are we not getting that?!” via NESN.
The Padres subsequently scored two runs. By the end of the rough stretch, Giolito had walked six batters, giving up five hits and allowing four runs before being pulled out. The Red Sox had a decent lead earlier in the third inning.
Jarren Duran had taken a solid lead off third base with one out. Manny Machado had tagged Duran with pitcher Wandy Peralta still on the rubber. It led umpire Scott Barry to call a balk. The balk allowed Duran to record a score and lead his team ahead 2-1. But still, at the end, the game entirely turned in the Padres’ favor.
Manny Machado’s poor hidden ball trick against the Red Sox
Padres’ Manny Machado nearly pulled a fast one on the Boston Red Sox during the third inning. He tried the hidden ball trick on Jarren Duran at third base. Eventually, it was called a balk, as Wandy Peralta was standing on the rubber without any ball.
Duran gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. Let’s say if Peralta was not on rubber. Instead, he would have been behind the mound fiddling with the rosin bag. Then, undoubtedly, it would have been a well-executed hidden ball trick.
Padres manager Mike Shildt took the accountability. “I thought it was a great baseball play. I’ll take some responsibility.” He further emphasized that it was his mistake. Sure, the hidden trick was a fail. Yet, Machado and the Padres were still able to dominate the Red Sox. They won on Ramon Laureano’s tenth-inning walk-off single. After the game, the Padres were at 65-52—3 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division.
If you remember, the last well-executed hidden ball trick was turned by former Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria against the Dodgers. It was back in 2013, the same month as now!
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