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MLB Umpire’s Actions Toward Cubs Players Catch Attention

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Jun 8, 2025 4:42 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers headed into Sunday’s game at Comerica Park knotted 1-1 in their early-June showdown, and neither club has shown any signs of slowing down in what has become one of baseball’s best cross-league matchups.

Heading into this weekend’s series, Detroit boasted baseball’s top record (42-24), while the Cubs sat just behind them (40-24) atop the National League Central.

Both clubs have played the role of heavyweights thus far in 2025, and Sunday's dramatic events only underscored just how high the stakes have become.

In the top of the fifth, with the Tigers leading 2-0, Cubs' Nico Hoerner took a called strike that left him riled.

Just moments later, Chicago's manager Craig Counsell came out to join Hoerner in arguing the call.

Both Hoerner and Counsell were ejected afterwards.

Nico Hoerner AND Craig Counsell were just ejected over this call.

Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/Fxi2tVqNaU
— Cubs Zone (@CubsZone) June 8, 2025

Fans online were quick to react to the controversial call.

"That's horrible," said one commenter.

"Umps have screwed the cubs over this game," another fan replied.

"Two best teams and they have the worst umps," said one user.

"That was egregious," one other fan commented.

"Bring on the umps!!! Fire these bums!!!" said another user.

"What a joke!!" commented one other fan.

Four games up on second-place St. Louis in the NL Central, the Cubs hold the second-best team batting average in MLB at .261 and have 88 home runs (fifth most).

The Tigers, meanwhile, seven games up on Minnesota in the AL Central, hold the most wins (42) of any bullpen, rank second in saves (21) and fourth in ERA (3.20).

The dual ejections in such a tight game between two of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball have naturally become one of the day’s most talked-about moments.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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