We have seen how controversial MLB umpiring has unfolded over the past few months. ABS has overturned calls left, right and center, and when players have not been allowed to challenge a call, the fans’ ire has been through the roof. True to that narrative, when the Tampa Bay Rays visited T-Mobile Park, the fans loudly booed the umpiring crew as the Mariners’ manager faced the consequences of a controversial ruling.

The Mariners were trailing 3-1 in the sixth inning with Julio Rodriguez at the plate. Facing Steven Matz, the All-Star center fielder had fallen behind in the count. On a 0-2 count, Matz threw a sinker. When home plate umpire Emil Jimenez ruled the pitch a strike, Rodriguez tapped his helmet. Jimenez found him too late and denied the challenge, causing the home dugout to explode. Manager Dan Wilson came rushing in to protest, but ultimately got ejected after a heated argument. Jomboy Media posted the whole sequence of events on X.

“Home plate umpire Emil Jimenez didn’t allow an instant challenge from Julio Rodriguez, which led to the ejection of Mariners manager Dan Wilson,” wrote the handle on X.

As a frustrated Wilson confronted Jimenez over the denial, bench coach Manny Acta tried to get him back to the dugout. However, the umpire said something in reply, which sparked the argument anew. It caused Acta to lose his cool as well. Jimenez ultimately ejected Wilson while Acta and Josh Naylor kept Rodriguez away to avoid his ejection.

“I didn’t agree with the assessment that Emil had,” Wilson told MLB.com. “We didn’t see eye to eye on that. I thought Julio had plenty of time to make that call and went to his helmet in time. But he didn’t agree.”

According to the league’s guidelines regarding the ABS Challenge System, a player must challenge immediately and without any help from the dugout or other players.

The broadcast cameras show that Rodriguez challenged while Jimenez was wrapping up his elaborate strikeout gesture to signal the end of an inning. He also did not appear to have gotten any help from others. The umpire was just not looking at the hitter.

As Jimenez ejected Wilson, the boos came soon after. It turned louder when the Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda was granted the challenge in the next frame. This time, too, Jimenez was looking somewhere else, and third base umpire Doug Eddings had to come running. Eddings confirmed the challenge was legitimate and allowed it.

As both teams struggled offensively, Naylor’s second-inning home run gave the Mariners an early lead. But the Rays secured their lead with a homer from Mesa Jr. and a two-run single from Richie Palacios. After trailing the Rays 3-1 until the seventh inning, Josh Naylor’s solo shot made it a one-run game. However, the Mariners’ offense fell short during the last two innings. It marked their third straight loss.

As for Wilson, Saturday’s game brought him his second ejection in four games.

Why was Dan Wilson suspended?

Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers witnessed plenty of hit-by-pitches, but one particular HBP in the top of the eighth sparked a benches-clearing incident.

With the Mariners leading 3-0, Gabe Speier relieved Bryan Woo and recorded the first two outs. He then threw two fastballs to Gleyber Torres, which were way inside. The second pitch struck him on the left leg, triggering the chaos.

Torres then exchanged words with Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, causing both benches and bullpens to clear. Speier and Wilson were also ejected for the rest of the game.

On Thursday, the MLB announced a three-game suspension for Speier for intentionally hitting Torres. Wilson was handed a one-game suspension. While Wilson had to bear the consequences as Speier’s manager, the pitcher appealed the verdict. His punishment was reduced to two games.

Ultimately, the Mariners will hope the controversy surrounding the umpiring does not overshadow the team’s efforts on the field. For the fans, though, the frustration was clear, and the boos made their feelings toward the controversial calls impossible to ignore.