BALTIMORE — Pete Alonso was left in disbelief on Wednesday night when his towering fly ball down the left-field line against the New York Yankees was ruled foul. The entire Baltimore Orioles dugout immediately reacted in disgust in the moment, which came in the seventh inning, with manager Craig Albernaz jumping onto the field to ask the umpires to review the play.
After replay review, third-base umpire Will Little’s call of a foul ball stood. Alonso’s foul ball would have resulted in a go-ahead, 4-3 home run for the Orioles had the call been overturned.
After further review, the ball was ruled foul.
No home run for Pete Alonso. pic.twitter.com/xnzXUDDHpn
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) August 20, 2026
Yankees reliever Brent Headrick ultimately struck Alonso out to end the inning. New York then took a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth after rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. hit an infield RBI single with the bases loaded, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. scored on a wild pitch.
“After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official could not definitively determine that the ball left the playing field in fair territory,” the MLB Replay Center said in a statement to Paul Mancano of the Baltimore Banner. “The call stands, and it is a foul ball.”
Just last season, the Yankees dealt with foul ball drama of their own. While playing on the road last year at George M. Steinbrenner Stadium, the temporary home of the Tampa Bay Rays at the time, Aaron Judge hit what was clearly a home run but ruled foul on the field. But because the foul poles at the stadium were not high enough, there wasn’t enough conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field call.
Wednesday’s game between the Yankees and Orioles was critical for both teams. The Yankees are trying to catch the American League East-leading Rays in the division while the Orioles are in a fight for the last wild-card spot.
This story will be updated.
