Cheeky Yankees Star Roasts MLB Umpire After Controversial Blown Call Goes His Way

Sometimes, it is not the scoreboard that stirs the most buzz, but a post-match statement that turns a regular win into a headline-grabbing moment. As tensions hung heavy in a one-run battle between the Yankees and the Angels, all came down to the final pitch — a curveball bending just a bit too far. However, what came after was part confession, comedy, and entirely unforgettable.

Now, get the scene. A tight 1-0 ballgame, two outs and a tying run on base. Then, fans of the Yankees and Angels breathed deep as a curveball from Mark Leiter Jr. danced toward the outer edge. But much to everyone’s disbelief, umpire Ben May rang the Angeles’ designated hitter Logan O’Hoppe up and the game was over.

That was assumed to be the controversy. However, instead of hiding behind the call, the catcher J.C. Escarra did not pretend it was close. He rather took a funny dig at Ben May later, despite the call going in his favor. “It was definitely a ball. It was way out there,” Escarra admitted. Cheeky much? Well, of course!

The renowned journalist Erik Boland summed it up perfectly when he wrote on X: “J.C. Escarra smiled regarding the final pitch of the game, a 2-and-2 Mark Leiter Jr. curveball he stole for strike three against Logan O’Hoppe: It was definitely a ball. It was way out there.”

J.C. Escarra smiled regarding the final pitch of the game, a 2-and-2 Mark Leiter Jr. curveball he stole for strike three against Logan O’Hoppe: “It was definitely a ball. It was way out there.”

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) May 29, 2025

Apart the laugh-worthy honesty, there was also a layer of capability that Escarra highlighted without bragging. Framing pitches is an art form in the current game and the star nailed it in the biggest moment. “It is something we work on every day to help our pitchers,” the 30-year-old said after the game, as if stealing strikes was just part of the grind. However, this one? It came with a wink and a win.

We can not forget the man on the field, though. Leiter Jr. did not flinch. After the lineout and getting the strikeout to begin the inning, he provided that infamous 2-2 curveball with the tying run looming. It was not his nastiest pitch, however, because of Escarra’s sleight of glove and May’s approach, it became his second save of the year.

Yankees’ win over the Angels was impressive, but a significant challenge is waiting for them in the form of the Dodgers.

Can the Yankees handle the Dodgers heat?

After the laugh and the win in Anaheim, reality hits quickly — next stop: the Dodgers and this is not just any June series. It is the measuring stick.

The Dodgers might have fumbled late in Cleveland, however, the team is still perched atop the NL West and waiting at home, where the lights are bright and the expectations are brighter. They are the same team that questioned the Yankees’ fundamentals after their World Series run — reviews that were not exactly forgotten in the Yankees. So yes, there is a little extra juice there.

However, the Yankees are not limping into Dodger Stadium. The team is charging in like a freight train. Winners of 16 of their last 20, they have barely missed a beat without Gerrit Cole and Juan Soto.

Aaron Judge is destroying baseballs with a .391 average, 18 homers and a 1.227 OPS. Max Fried has been dominant and Carlos Rodón has also rediscovered elite-level form. Then, the role players like Trent Grisham and Ben Rice are also outpacing assumptions. This is not a fluke, it is a resurgence and it has got an edge.

The Dodgers better be ready. The Yankees are coming in hot!

Escarra’s cheeky strikeout moment could have sealed the sweep in Anaheim, however, focus now shifts to what comes next. Stay locked in, the fireworks are just getting begun.

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