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The Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates had a classic game that ended in controversy Saturday night.
Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy started the game with an inside-the-park home run off Pirates star Paul Skenes to start the game. Colorado cruised to a 2-1 victory, 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 ground ball to Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros. The infielder carried the ball and met runner Billy Cook simultaneously. The referees declared everyone safe on the field, which would have led to a tie. Karros was in disbelief when he told his manager to dispute the call.
After the umpires convened, Cook was called out for runner’s interference. Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was furious.
“The runner failed to avoid the defender in the act of fielding the ball; therefore, he is 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 starter 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 shoe “cut my glove” during the play.
Kelly said he agreed that Cook hit Karros’s glove as he ran toward third base. However, he did not understand why the referees had to meet to get the decision right.
Cook added that he didn’t think he had made contact until he watched the replay.
“Just unfortunate how that played out,” he continued.
Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz homered in the first inning, accounting for Pittsburgh’s only run in the loss.
TJ Rumfield had the other RBI for Colorado. Marked McCarthy.
Jake McCarthy of the Colorado Rockies returns to the dugout after hitting an inside-the-park home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starter 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.
