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The Baltimore Orioles were victims of an accidental challenge.
In the second inning of the Orioles’ 8-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, third baseman Coby Mayo was forced to challenge a throw he didn’t want.
Mayo took a 3-0 pitch from Diamondbacks starter Eduardo RodrÃguez to the outside and began walking toward first base, thinking he had walked. Instead, home plate umpire John Tumpane called it a strike.
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Coby Mayo of the Baltimore Orioles talks with umpire John Tumpane during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Baltimore, Maryland. April 15, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
Mayo expressed his displeasure with the call and raised his right hand to his helmet, but did not pat his head, as he did not want to contest the pitch. Tumpane thought he had indeed contested the field and initiated a review.
The call was upheld as a strike, with Mayo saying he did not contest the call. The Orioles ended up losing the challenge, one of two on the day. A replay confirmed that Mayo never touched his head.
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Coby Mayo of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates his double during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Baltimore, Maryland. April 15, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
Mayo, however, still managed a strikeout. On the ensuing 3-1 pitch, Mayo fired a 91 mph fastball down the left field line for a double and ended up scoring the game’s first run.
Mayo’s unintentional challenge is one of the few that have happened so far this season. Last week, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales challenged a pitch, but immediately tried to reverse his decision as the team was left with only one challenge left.
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Baltimore Orioles’ Coby Mayo celebrates with Blaze Alexander after scoring on an RBI hit by Sam Huff during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Baltimore, Maryland. April 15, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
Gonzales ended up winning the challenge, and the Pirates kept their final challenge.
Mayo and the Orioles (9-9) hope to have no more ABS issues when they take on the Cleveland Guardians (10-9) on Thursday at 6:10 p.m. ET.
