Another day in MLB, another reminder of why the ABS can’t come soon enough. Reportedly, on Thursday, we saw the first truly game-changing blown call of the 2025 postseason. And this one didn’t just swing an inning, but it ended the Padres’ season.

Well, San Diego fell 3-1 to the Cubs in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, knocking them out of the playoffs. And the controversy came in the ninth inning, when home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn ran up on Xander Bogaerts on a pitch that should’ve been ball four. So, instead of extending the rally, the Padres were left stunned. And judging by their reactions afterward, the umpires probably didn’t expect the blowback they got.

“Yo, holy s–t. Padres’ reaction after the game to the umpires.” Padres loyalist Kyler shared a small clip that showed what went through the Padres clubhouse after that blown-up call.

Notably, in the ninth inning, things got interesting with Jackson Merrill leading off. He launched a homer, offering a late-inning surge for the Padres. Then came Xander Bogaerts at home plate, hoping to keep the momentum going. But then came the turning point… On the payoff pitch, umpire D.J. Reyburn called a strike on a ball that wasn’t even close to the strike zone. And that brutal call killed the Padres’ rally and their season.

If you have checked the game, when the final out was recorded and the Cubs celebrated, the Padres’ frustration boiled over. As the umpires were walking off, the Padres players and coaches confronted them, and a fan even caught it on video. You could see guys shouting, getting in the umpires’ faces, and needing to be held back.

Well, the crew didn’t stick around… They bolted down the dugout steps, but not before hearing plenty from the Padres bench.

The Padres’ bats are equally to blame

Yes, that was a controversial call by the umpire, but that was in the ninth. Till then, it was a barebones show by the Padres’ offense.

The Padres’ top three hitters were never in rhythm and combined to go 0-for-11. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez both went 0-for-4, while Manny Machado finished 0-for-3 with a walk. Tatis struck out three times and also flied out with runners on second and third in the fifth. Machado, who homered in Wednesday’s win, couldn’t come through in the eighth, grounding out with a runner on third to end the inning.

Still, the Padres had life in the ninth. After Jackson Merrill’s leadoff homer, Cubs reliever Brad Keller put more pressure on himself by plunking Ryan O’Hearn and Bryce Johnson. Suddenly, the tying runs were on. But instead of a comeback story, the Padres ran out of magic.

The result?

For the second straight year, the Padres won 90-plus games in the regular season, only to see their biggest stars go quiet in October. For reference, Machado and Tatis once again couldn’t deliver in the clutch. Even Jake Cronenworth was hitless across all three games in the Wild Series.

So as their 2025 journey comes to an end, the Padres’ only real concern heading into the offseason will be waking up their own bats.